How to frag a gorgonian

[jackinfobo]

Hello, I would like to frag my non photosynthetic purple gorgonian. Does anyone know the best way to cut of a branch and to attach it to a small rock?

 

[Aquabacs]

You can do it in the traditional manner. (before you do so make sure that you are using clean equipment) Clip the gorgonian to the size you want, with wire strippers take off about a quarter inch of flesh off the clipping, then attach to the frag plug with crazy glue. Some will glue the clippings without removing the flesh. When you remove the flesh, target feed the polyps directly above the area, and the stripped section should recover very quickly.


Mike

 

[jackinfobo]

Thanks for the reply, will the gorgonian actually stick tho, because once the flesh is either removed or dies at the base, the skelleton of the actual gorgonian is really really thin. Will this be enough material to actually bond to the rock and stay there?

 

[Aquabacs]

To give the cutting more support you can drill a small set hole into the plug.

Another technique that works well is doing the same as above but using plastic threaded screws (saw Todd Gardner from Atlantis with IIRC yellow Menella sp. Gorgonians). Drill out the center of the screw, glue the gorg, set it in, you are done.

Mike

 

[jackinfobo]

Thank you Mike! Those are both excellent ideas, and I'm going to try them both!