Need help! How to remove palys from montipora

[stoneroller]

I have a rock with Montipora danae (atleast I believe it to be) and a small colony of palys. I would like to seperate the two to ensure their long term health. Both are worth saving to me! What would be the "right" way to tackle?

Thanks

 

[Kigs]

see if you can remove the polyps with a razor with the rock out of the water. once the polyps are closed up, it should be easier to seperate the two.

 

[BeachBum843]

Be sure to wear arm length rubber gloves and maybe even a face shield before going at zooanthus mats with a scalpel or razor blade. They can squirt when you cut them. A pair of hemostats or needle nose pliers are useful when pulling mats back from the surface of liverock.

 

[stoneroller]

Thanks. I have picked up on the necessary protection.

 

[Debbie C.]

Exacto makes a blade that looks like a chissel (sp) which you can start just before the base and remove some of the rock with the polyps for easy reconnection.

 

[stoneroller]

I guess you wouldn't have to tap the exacto chisel blade with a hammer? It'll cut the rock?

 

[Debbie C.]

Thank you for the correction is spelling. Just a good guess. Most of the time it glides under the polyps. You may need to twist your wrist to "wiggle" it under but I have cut hundreds of colonies and may have lost one or two. They both will be fine. I suggest trying it. You get better leverage with the exacto with the handle that looks like a screw driver handle. GOOD Luck!

 

[Debbie C.]

OOO I have never had to use a hammer either

 

[stoneroller]

Thank you all for your responses.