Turbinaria Propagation
Dave Riendeau
I have a turbinaria peltata (I think) aka cup coral that is about 6 inches in diameter. Am wondering about fragmenting this. Is this possible with this coral? If so how do I go about doing this?
Dan Maughmer
Sure, go for it. Thats pretty much how I got mine, fragged it out of a dying colony. As long as your water conditions are good (ie everything is healthy and growing), go right ahead. The skeleton is pretty tough and you'll prolly have to use a chisel or a strong pair of clippers. Give the damaged areas good flow and everything should go smoothly.
Brad Ward
You can just snap off a piece and glue it at just about any orientation. The snapped off section will grow new polyps, so you even make toadstool looking colonies.
Dave Riendeau
Thanks for response Dan and Brad,
As long as your water conditions are good (ie everything is healthy and growing), go right ahead.
This specimen has grown about an inch in diameter since I got it about 6 months ago. Water quality is good.
Here ya go fellas, VHO lighting only, hehe, start the flame!!
The skeleton is pretty tough and you'll prolly have to use a chisel or a strong pair of clippers. Give the damaged areas good flow and everything should go smoothly.
Chisel? Hmmm, the cup is a mushroom sort of shape, the surface of the coral looks like it has some sort of "skin" on it. Do I cut this layer first then use the chisel or clippers? Do I need to have a polyp on the fragmented piece?
Anybody use a set of tree pruners for fragging corals, i think they should be strong enough.
Brad Ward
Sometimes you need some kind of tool to break corals, but I try to use my bare fingers and hands whenever possible. I would try to snap off pieces from the edge as cleanly as possible with no tools. If that proves impossible, I try to use various types of pliers on stonies. With T. peltata, I would try this before using a chisel. You could also shape your final frag by scoring the skeleton with a sharp single edge tool like a cardbord cutter that uses a razor blade, and snap. I would try to leave a polyp or two on each frag. Turbinaria like to eat, and it could only help it grow out faster.
Whats the matter with VHO's? My favorite lights, color wise.
Dan Maughmer
Here ya go fellas, VHO lighting only, hehe, start the flame!!
Nothing "wrong" with it per say ;)
Chisel? Hmmm, the cup is a mushroom sort of shape, the surface of the coral looks like it has some sort of "skin" on it. Do I cut this layer first then use the chisel or clippers?
I would say use either or, but using both seems to be complicating things.
Do I need to have a polyp on the fragmented piece?
Yes, I would try for a sizable piece, dont just do a little 1/2" section. Prolly shoot for at least 2" with several polyps.
Anybody use a set of tree pruners for fragging corals, i think they should be strong enough.
I think so.
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