Orange Crush Acanthastrea Growth pics and fragging pics

RandyO

Active member
I received a frag of the Original Orange Crush back in March 2005 from Tighaboy, who got it from Mike at The Captive Reef in PA. This was one of the first Orange Acans to come into the trade, and people went nuts for it since it grew so fast, and was a beautiful coral.

Here is the frag from March 2005
It was 2 big polyps and 2 small polyps
OrangeCrushMarch05.jpg


Here it is in April 2005
OrangeCrushApril.jpg


At that time I received another frag of it from someone else, but also originating from The Captive Reef in PA.

This piece had 2 large polyps and 3 small polyps

OrangeCrush3April.jpg


Here is a pic of both frags in April 2005

OrangeCrush2April.jpg


August 05
OrangeCrushAug05.jpg


And both frags in October 05
OrangeCrushOct05.jpg
 
The frags have grown over their frag rocks and it was time to cut one up.

Here it is in a collection cup waiting to be cut.

OrangeCrush206.jpg



And here it is being cut by the wet tile saw.

OrangeCrushTilesaw206.jpg


Underside after cut. This guy was starting to encrust the bottom of the frag rock.

OrangeCrushTilesawA206.jpg


Snapped it open with a screwdriver

OrangeCrushTilesawB206.jpg


Used a razor blade to cut the top attached flesh

OrangeCrushTilesawC206.jpg


Finished product

OrangeCrushTilesawD206.jpg
 
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Nice job Randy, could you post some follow up pics when the frags start healing and growing. Thanks.
 
thanks for the demo.I love the fact that the orange crush is a fast grower .I was thinking of fragging mine as well and was scared to.
 
Thanks guys.

jjmcat, I was scared to since it was the first time I tried to frag it. But it went smoothly.
 
ahh! don't cut those they're too nice :)

I have similar piece that I got from Atlantic Reef around that time. It was originally 3 polyps, I don't know how many it is now. It does grow fast! Mine will never be cut though, it's encrusting a massive rock. I'm looking forward to the day that the whole rock is covered.
 
I had those 2 pieces, plus a third that was given to me from another reefer. It would have been nice to have one big one instead of the 3 pieces I had. So I thought I'd see what it was like to chop one up.

rickyfins,
Sorry, I took the two frags I made to a local fish store. I kept the mother chunk so I may frag it again some day. It's healed up already.
 
Well keep me in mind when you frag again, as I would really like a frag of that. Thanks for getting back to me quickly. It really is a nice piece. Have a good one!

thanks,

rick
 
Hey Randy, just out of curiosity have you ever had problems with other corals being stung by the orange acan? I have heard they are very agressive in their toxin production if they are put near another coral.

And just out of curiosity have you ever fragged your micromussa?

Thanks,
Chris
 
Cmondo
i dont know about toxins,
but orange crush usually tend to be Echinata, or subbecninata,
both of which, arre agressive, and will kill many nerby corals(except yuma...i think,,,,could be wrong)
but they will win over and Echino, or a Lord.
not such a big issue, just keep it a few inches from your other corals.

micromussa fragging, is done by many, but if they are trying to remove single polyps, it is very difficult, as im sure you know micromussa have teeeny tiny polyps.
but its done.

joe
 
Thanks joe, yeah I was just wondering becuase I have heard from several sources that if the echinatas "sense" another coral close to them, they start chemical warfare, and that is what causes the burning or death of the nearby coral.

And on a side note, why do you only collect acan's in secret?
 
No one has ever figured out for sure what the Orange Crush Acan is, but it's most likely A.echinata.

Echinata's are very aggressive. They send out mesinary filaments to attack nearby corals. I see them send these filaments out at night to kill Coralline Algae. I wish some of my lords did this. I have a few lords that can not grow over coralline.

Here is my favorite picture of Echinata aggression.

Picture by Tigahboy
acanwar.jpg


The victim is a lord frag.


I like to frag my Micromussa using the tile saw. Makes nice clean cuts, and the micros just grow down the sides of the cuts in just a few weeks.

Here's a pic of some old Micro cuttings.

MicromussafragsNov05.jpg
 
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