fragging toadstools

[M88A2]

i have a toadstool that is getting way too big and my new tank wont be set up for another month or two. ive never fragged anything other than zoas so i was looking for a little guidance. how big should i cut? can i do it in my tank or would it release toxins? anything else i should know?

 

[Jeff]

If you do it in the tank, start running carbon. You can cut off just about any amount you want and them cut the pieces smaller if you want. It's hard to harm a leather coral. I have fragged my Tyree Toadstool a number of times and have never had a death.
After you cut the frags up, remember which side faces up and glue the frags down to something to heal.

 

[NYCBOB]

glueing leather is very hard since its so slimy. i used a toothpick to hold mine. crazyglue one side of the toothpick to a rock, while stabbing the other end of the toothpick into the leather.

 

[ericgreg]

How to frag? Cut a ring out of the edge of the head. In other words, make the head smaller by cutting an outer ring out of it. Then cut pieces off of it, and start new ones. Then trade them. These things indestructible. I have to frag mine at least 1x per year.

 

[M88A2]

awsome ty for the tipps

 

[jas8943]

glueing leather is very hard since its so slimy. i used a toothpick to hold mine. crazyglue one side of the toothpick to a rock, while stabbing the other end of the toothpick into the leather.

would that work for any leather coral?? i have a green nethea that i can never get the frags to stay on the plug

 

[Kentucky]

So basically you just cut the cap?
Any precautions when fragging a toadstool?

 

[RyanSweatt2004]

Take it out of the tank if possible and frag it in a dish or tub of tank water. Do a 10% water change after you put the coral back in the tank especially if you have to cut in the tank. If you don't have reactor then put a media bag filled with reef carbon in your sump after to help pull out any toxins being released by the cut coral. Lots of toadstools release a ton of toxic slime that can kill fish so its best to only cut one coral at any time.

 

[kpl519]

I have fragged a green nepthea and a couple leathers. What I do is a water change and with the water I take from the tank I fill 1 5 gallon bucket a little more than 1/2 way up and I fill a bus tub or large rubbermade with enough water to submerge the leather. Then I take out the leather put it in the rubbermade/bus tub and cut. With toadstool style leathers I have a large specimen cup with 1/3 holes drilled all over the sides and bottom, I place the 1'' or so frags in the cup with rubble or snail shells let it slime for a minute or so in the 5 gallon bucket then hang it on the back wall of my tank in a medium flow area. With in a week the frags will adhere to the rubble or shells. when Im done cutting on it I put the remaining leather in the 5 gallon bucket to slime for a few minutes and then put him back in the tank once he settles down. I do another tank water change the next week.

The nepthea was the same except instead of the specimen cup I rubberbanded the frags to plugs or rubble. They took longer to adhere but they grow like weeds once they are attached IME.

 

[XrayGuy]

I have had nothing but bad experiences with the rubberband method...even putting the rubberband super loosely, the frag either floats away or cuts itself in half when expanding during the day. I like the toothpick (plastic ones are best) method or you can get a plastic container with rubble in in, throw the frags in there and then put some sort of mesh to cover so they dont float out. They will attach in a couple weeks. Good luck