fraged my Elegance Coral

[sailfish2]

Well my elegance coral has been to large for his home for some time so I decided to frag him. He was blocking two paths in my tank the fish like to use. This lead to my powder blue biting him so he would retract his tentacles and clear a path. So I did some research, got the tools together, sliced and diced and now I have two. I have had him for over a year and he has always been healthy.

Tools: Drimel with diamond tip bit, large screwdriver or chisel, and a razor blade.

I used the dremel to cut three quarters of the way through the skeleton. I then used a chisel to easily tweak the two side apart and cut the soft tissue with a razor blade.

It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. The part that took the longest was trying to gently get the coral to deflate before removal. The skeleton was relatively easy to cut and breaking it a part was even easer. The only thing I would change if I had it to do again was to only cut half way through and then break it apart.

The coral did extremely well and had inflated again within 45 minutes. I am now on day two and will try to feed the coral tonight.

I did not take this lightly and feed the coral well for several week before cutting.

Only time will tell but hopefully he will heal and I will have two happy and healthy corals.

Before

During

After Small Half

45 Min After

3/29.09

Thank Joe

 

[erichatesmice]

Wow amazing and very informative. Didn't know it'd be so easy, that skeleton always seemed so tough to cut through.

 

[Swanwillow]

and you didn't even take off the bubble algae.

So pretty, congrats on the separating and best of luck it works. I hope to someday be on the receiving end of a fragged elegance, or healthy one even. maybe they'll do better long-term in our tanks.

 

[elegance coral]

I had one with almost the exact same skeleton. Mine didn't make it though. Your coral has put down about 1/4" of new skeleton, and I bet the polyp has grown much more than that. I think it should pull through the fragging just fine. Looks great.

 

[sailfish2]

Thanks Guys

Thanks Guys

Thanks guys I hope he continues to do well. I feed both half’s last night with great success.

Swanwillow “and you didn't even take off the bubble algae”

That is Limited Edition Bubble Alge its worth a lot would not dare touch it. HA HA

elegance coral “Your coral has put down about 1/4" of new skeleton”

Is that about right for a year or so?

He is a good 12”+ long and 8”+ wide, and 5" tall. A good quarter of it was and still is under a rock shelf. Between the amount of flow and tight quarters mine has not been able to open wide like other photos I have seen.

I think this is an indo because I purchased it before the Austrians hit the market but I am far from an expert.

Erichatesmice “that skeleton always seemed so tough to cut through”

That’s what I thought but the dremel made quick work of it.

I will keep everyone posted on how this goes. I know there are others out there that are just like I was and want to do this but have not tried it yet.

Joe

 

[zeppelin]

Nice job Joe. Best of luck with the frags. :smokin:

 

[Sandeep]

Congratulations, hope everything turns out well.

I fragged mine about 3 months ago and all are doing well.
See: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1286845&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[sailfish2]

ele

ele

Just an update.

It been about two weeks and all is well so far.

I think it will be two more weeks before it will be totally healed.
I will try to get another pic of the cut section one day this week.

Here is a pick of both setting right next to each other.

Sand deep I hope mine do as well as yours. I think they will.

Joe

 

[jadeguppy]

They look nice. Are you feeding them?

 

[sailfish2]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks jadeguppy

Most defiantly I have feed them 3 or 4 times since they were fraged. I swear they both have grown, but they probably just have a little more room to open up.

I usually only feed once a week but I have fed them a little more to help ensure their survival.


Thanks Joe

 

[HKSTurbo28]

What are you feeding your Elegance?

 

[sailfish2]

update

update

I feed him silver sides you can buy it at most LFS.

I still have both and they are doing well.

I have some pic's uploaded from a few weeks back i posted on a local form.

Healed section has some cyno alge on it.

Joe