Fragging new coral

[bearpeidog]

Hello - I recently pruchased this coral and just love the thing. I haven't seen anything like it. However, I want to frag this for two reasons: Friend wants a piece and if something happens to my tank I like the idea of being able to get a piece back.

So considering this has been in my tank for 1.5 days - do you think I should just let it be for a while or frag it now. There is a piece that looks like it just wants to be cut off - even has a piece of rock stuck to it.

Would you frag this so soon and if so, would you cut it at the red lines?

 

[flyyyguy]

I hate to say it but you are most likely going to have to frag that entire thing up shortly anyway. It is very bleached and can be a common symptom on recently wild caughts.

Get it low in the tank and make sure it has tons of flow. Your goal at this point is to make that thing turn brown. Once you get it healthy and PE going again then you can worry about getting the color back, and who knows what color it will actually end up being.


watch it closely and if you start to see tissue sloughing frag up every branch you can, frag well into remaining tissue and moutn in glue sealing any open woulds with a thin layer of glue

You can certainly cut it now as well to get a few frags off as you indicated

 

[bearpeidog]

Thanks flyyguy. You'd have to see it but i really don't think it's bleached. I never rule out anybody's advice and judging by your post count, you've been around the block a few times. Right now it's in high flow and the color is uniform throughout with no signs of tissue issues. Time will tell though! It is a baby blue color despite my picture and flash.

I bought it from blue zoo aquatics and I've bought from them before and hopefully my trust is not unfounded! I'll keep you posted.

One question - you say low in the tank. Is that to reduce the lighting? You thinking the change in light will stress it and to acclimate it slowly? I would think that light is what it need, albeit slower acclimation? Thank you!

 

[MammothReefer]

I think I have the same piece, are the polyps blue? If so the majority of it will stay white, but unfortunately the tips of mine turned brown, as did the polyps. I don't have it under "nuke me" light though it's just under my t5s w/not much halide exposure, but I do like it's location so I'm going to be happy as it sits until I redo my lighting.

(only have a macro..but here is the tips of it.. everything below is white)

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

Don't frag it yet. You need to let the internal polyp heal up some. Usually the polyp dies off some during the acclimation to synthetic aquarium salt water. I never recommend fragging a wild/maricultured acro until it has been in your tank for atleast a month. Not saying that you cannot do it but it is going to significantly increase the chances of the colony not making it. Now, if it is starting to RTN than defiantly frag it up.

 

[bearpeidog]

Thank you - makes sense to hold off on fragging.

Mammoth reefer - I'll check the polyps later. Wish I had a good picture. The tips are blue - at least for now . I hope that it stays like it is - almost glows blue.

 

[returnofsid]

That coral is on the verge of death. I'd wait for it to recover, before fragging anything. In the meantime, give it the very best water quality, high flow and moderate lighting. Once it recovers, slowly acclimate it to a higher light area. It's very bleached out!

 

[Mikigo]

problem of not fragging it now is that it may rtn on you over night. happens to some of the corals when bleached. good luck