Branched soft corals

[Dickie]

I bought a rock with about 4-5 seperate colonies of a branching soft coral. I'm not sure of the scientific name, but I was told it wwas a devil's hand coral.
http://mysite.freeserve.com/Tank/marine/growth_pics/images/devil2_10_01_03.jpg

That pic was taken only a few days after it was put into the tank, it has since extended its branches further. What would be the easiest way to frag this?

[Chuck S]

This is indeed not a leather but instead looks to me like common name colt coral. Scientific name Nepthea. They grow quite quickly and can be cut or fragged through constriction.

[Dickie]

Sorry Chuck, but I've never propagated any corals except xenia and that was with scissors. What do you mean my constriction?.

[Chuck S]

basically by placing a rubberband around the base tightly making it tighter as it constricts until it separates with time or breaking the rock the base is one and spreading them apart causing the base to split over a period of time through force.

[Katspaw]

I always used a different method when I had my colt. Using a razor blade I would remove a branch, Iodine the cut ends and then on the fragged section stick a plastic toothpick about 1/4 inch up from the base. Then with a rubberband band the toothpick to a rock in a criscross fashion. Worked everytime.

Tracey

[Dickie]

Tracey,

Sorry, I can't quite picture what you're explaining /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ugh.gif. Would you be able to draw a simple diagram of it?

[David Grigor]

I have had best results do similiar to what Katspaw descibes but just using a needle and thread and poking the needle through the stalk of the leather wrap and going around the rock repeating 3-4 times just tight enough to keep the coral touching the rock. Even the slimiest ones seem to attach well this way.....

[Dickie]

When it's attatched do you remove the thread or does it wear away?

[David Grigor]

Usually I just leave it but you can snip it off once your for certain it is securly attached. Don't try to pull it back through the coral just leave that part.

[PCLim]

[ QUOTE ]
... Iodine the cut ends and then on the fragged section stick a plastic toothpick about 1/4 inch up from the base.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi,

What do you mean by iodine ? This is the same as the one use for wounds or the one use for dosing of softies tank.

Thanks
PC

[Chuck S]

It is the same stuff I do beleive. They do sell it in most places that carry reef supplies.

[PCLim]

Thanks for your reply. As you can see, that was my first post and I'm residing in Singapore.

Will be trying my hands on fragging, maybe with Xenia.

PC

[Chuck S]

Cool good to see individuals around the world /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I know we have some members over in the Europe region as well as the South Seas so welcome to our community.