Propagating ricordea

[121]

Hi all,

Has anyone tried fragging a ricordea before?

I would like to know how long it took for your frag to grow into a full size ricordea.

I've only read about people cutting a ricordea four ways through the mouth but has anyone tried six or even eight 'pie' slices?

I'm assuming that a ricordea frag will obviously grow to full size in a shorter time if it was simply cut in half.

Whats your experience?

 

[Lance M.]

I find the best thing to do with floridias is to wait until they reach between 1.5'' and 2'' then cut them straight down the middle or when they form two distinct mouths, cut straight down in between them. When cut in half, It usually takes anywhere from a day to a week for the ricordea to heal it self and then anywhere from two to four weeks to look normal again, a complete circle.

Yes like you said the more ways you cut it the longer the heal time and the great chance for failure, loss of the frag(s).

 

[121]

Thats interesting Lance M,

Have any of your ricordea frags grown between 1.5'' and 2'' in fully expanded size?

I'm assuming this would take more than two to four weeks. I'm thinking it would take 6 months or longer seeing as ricordea are slow growers.

 

[Lance M.]

Yes it does take awhile depending on your lighting and how happy the rics are. I'd say it would take about 3-4 months for one to reach 1.5-2'' again after being cut in half.

It also depends on the ric as some heal faster then others. A flourescent green ric I cut about a month ago I cut pretty straight down the middle and one of the halves healed significantly faster then the other one even though they sat right next to each other. It's weird.

 

[Don-Coraleone]

i usually cut mine into four pieces and it works great.

 

[121]

Hi makavelli911,

Do you have any frags that have grown between 1.5'' and 2'' in fully expanded size yet?

 

[Radioheadx14]

If there is only one mouth, can you cut 1 piece with out a mouth and one with? ...and if so, how close/far from the mouth should I cut? How log will it take to grow a new mouth? I have some ricordeas that are getting HUGE! I moved them up my tank and they are getting even bigger

 

[reefmaister]

I have heard about bacterial infections being a problem. I would assume that sterilizing the razor blade is a good precaution, and may help the heal times.