Recommended acanthastrea enchinata fraggin technique

[mane3215]

I was wondering what the best way to frag an enchinata is. I have one that is large and plan on fraggin about 5-6 piece off it. I was going to use a dremel, but don't want 6 square pieces, I would like them to look a little natural. So I was gonna cut through the back then break the top. Sound right?

Thanks!

[Anthony Calfo]

Some clarification is needed here, my friend. I doubt that you mean echinata the Acroporid species by the nature of your question.

Do you instead mean one of the larger polyped genera like Echinophyllia or Echinopora? If so... you've got the gist of it. Cut throgh the corallum from the back perhaps, and then cleanly cut through the tissue from the top with a very sharp razor.

With a stainless steel cut off wheel, you can instead (better perhaps) cut through the animal from above so that you can more accurately "tiptoe" between the corallites (individual polyp "skeletons") and minimize collateral damge (septa, etc.)

Tough to describe this one by text, but really is a simple matter overall. Do consult some fellow aquarists in your regionional aquarium clubs via the forums here for shared adive and opinions. It will be rather like cutting "brain" corals.

kindly, Anthony

(off to IMAC in hours... out til next week :) )

[mane3215]

Thanks, this is what I am reffering too:

http://www.cvreefers.org/modules/gallery/albums/album11/newenchinata1.sized.jpg
http://www.cvreefers.org/modules/gallery/albums/album11/enchinatawhole.sized.jpg

[Anthony Calfo]

Ah, no worries... a very easy one. Cut from above and navigate between the corallites. These polyps are so large and distanced that it will make for a very friendly/forgiving candidate. Much like the difference between Favia and Favites (seperate vs. shared walls/septa)

Please do photograph and post pics of your efforts to enlighten and inspire others :)

with kind regards,

Anthony

[mane3215]

Awesome, thanks man. I will try to do so.

[Ocean Image]

Great pictures! Did you two decide what coral that is specifically?

I have a similar looking creature I believe to be ??oxyopora??.


PS. How many blue zoos did that cost ya?? :D

[mane3215]

Its an acanthastrea enchinata.

You can read about it HERE (http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/001-100/Species%20pages/2.htm)

Its set me back quite a bit, but not zoos =).