Frag A Goniopora?

[waterfaller1]

Anyone tried it with success?

 

[John Kelly]

I have.

These are two separate pieces.

It is simple to do. I keep meaning to type up a tutorial to put on my web site. In order to ensure a successful fragging, make sure the coral is plump and healthy first.

 

[waterfaller1]

Thanks RA..so how did you do it?

 

[John Kelly]

Details coming soon......

 

[adw]

reefnroll has fragged her goni and had no problems.

 

[John Kelly]

Goniopora Fragging Tutorial
http://www.goniopora.org/fragmentation.htm

 

[waterfaller1]

Thanks John..that is great!

 

[Testhead1313]

Here's reefnroll's fragging adventure:
http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=15317&highlight=goniopora

 

[firefish2020]

I have fragged alveoporas before but never attempted a goni.
How long has the fragged goniopora managed to survive? Is there any difference in longevity one way or the other or is it about the same as any unfragged goni?
I know the alveopora I fragged into two halves had a lower than 50% sucess rate IMO as one half lived for well over a year and I lost the other half over a period of about 6 months.

 

[waterfaller1]

Firefish..are you directly feeding yours? I find that some,if not all LPS can starve if not fed on a regular basis. Some just die a slower death than others.

 

[firefish2020]

Yes with goniopora and alveopora you have to feed them, there is no other way to attempt to keep them alive other than that. I fed it DTs, Cyclopeeze, brine, oyster eggs you name it and it wasted away. It just seemed to never recover fully.

 

[waterfaller1]

I wonder if closing up the cut half w/ glue would help? Sometimes I think when we frag things they succomb to bacteria. The guys who get them from the reefs have to be cutting them.

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6777553#post6777553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
I wonder if closing up the cut half w/ glue would help? Sometimes I think when we frag things they succomb to bacteria. The guys who get them from the reefs have to be cutting them.

When they come from the ocean, the base or substrate they are attatched to is cut. I have never seen any signs of the actual tissue being cut when they (goniopora) are harvested.

IMO, glue is not good to use for torn goniopora tissue. Goniopora have their own very effective healing response. In my tutorial, when I mounted the frag, I tried to not let the glue get in the cut area because the coral will heal quickly enough by itself if it is healthy enough to begin with. Several experiments I have done where I've used super glue to try and "fix" something have produced brown jelly.

 

[firefish2020]

So what would you say the long term (2+ years) success rate with the fragged gonis would be? I have heard of great success with goniopora that are 100% raised in captivity from buds. Perhaps in time these buds can be fragged out to produce a strain of fast growing aquacultured goniopora.

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6779679#post6779679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firefish2020
So what would you say the long term (2+ years) success rate with the fragged gonis would be?

Do you mean with my fragged gonis or with any fragged gonis? Either way, the success rate is dependant upon the knowledge and skill of the fragger and the caregiver, which varies from person to person. Judging from photos and descriptions of goniopora in the wild, "long term" success should be measured in decades.

I have heard of great success with goniopora that are 100% raised in captivity from buds. Perhaps in time these buds can be fragged out to produce a strain of fast growing aquacultured goniopora.

Due to the growth form of the hemispherical bud-producing species, I feel that it may be pointless to frag them. I have a couple of goniophytes (buds) that I am raising and 16 more left on the mother colony. They just keep forming on her. It will be interesting to see how many the mother colony will produce and also how long it takes before the second generation starts producing. In 5 years, there could be hundreds?????

 

[firefish2020]

...In 5 years, there could be hundreds?????

John,
I do hope you are right, I agree that fragging gonis is a pointless thing and our best bet is to do just what you said, let them grow on there own. Maybe in five years we will have a good strain out there that is more tolerant of our systems. Best of luck to everyone

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6784242#post6784242 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by firefish2020
I agree that fragging gonis is a pointless thing...

It is fragging the hemispherical bud-producing species that I believe is pointless. The other species of different growth forms are good candidates for fragging when they are healthy and under the right care.

Thinking on the subject of "system tolerant" specimens, I have read more than several instances where people have somehow managed to kill their entire tank............except for that one goniopora they had in there. That says a lot about their potential.

 

[firefish2020]

indeed

 

[waterfaller1]

Well I have decided that fragging my $65 pink/yellow goni that cost me $62 to ship is way too risky..LOL

 

[firefish2020]

A wise choice IMO