Damaged Coral - Should I frag off the remaing live bits?

[mattsilvester]

Hi Guys,

A bit of advice please regarding fragging sps branching corals - bascially the question is whether I should do it or not? Two of my branching corals are "damaged" as it were.

The first, an acropora "died" as a result of being too close to a leather coral. There are a few nice branches still growing, which have really coloured up again, and are showing good growth. But the "head" in general is 80% dead. So, I was thinking of cutting off the remaining nice bits, and making a few reasonable sized frags out it. I suppose I would get half a dozen nice 1.5" to 2" frags from it.

The second, another branching acropora, has been damaged around the base..... in turn algae started growing on it. For a long time I was baffled why the corasl was receding, but I now know why this happened (a teddy bear crab!) and its been resolved. So now it is attached to the rock by a dead stem...... so now there are about 4 main branches, each about 3" or so (with their own smaller branches) joined only by a mainly dead base..... I now know why this happened (a teddy bear crab!) and its been resolved. So, I am thinking cutting this just above the "dead" bit and making 4 large frags...... which really are colonies in their own right. These "frags" would be about 1/2" (10-15mm) diameter at the base. Is this too big?

So...... my first question is, should I do it? If yes, then my next query will be about how I should go about this......

Cheers,

Matt

[c.rob]

Thats up to you. They may look more authentic with the dead parts becoming coraline encrusted or regrowth of the coral. have any Pics ?

[mattsilvester]

Here's a pic:

The red area is totally dead (teddy bear crab.... caught him in the act).
The blue lines indicate where I would cut it;
I would get 3 nice big frags (2-3") and 3 average size (1.2 to 2")..... I would then be left with a "stump", which I would cut as low as possible and re-attach.... and just see how it develops.

Thanks,

Matt

[c.rob]

If this is an "AFTER" Pic of the TB crab damage , I would wait it out. From that pic, it would appear that the coral may recover.

If the dead area is bleached out then I would commence fragging. Is that a Bali Yongie.... should regrow fairly quickly.

Good luck either way!

[kaptken]

I have learned from hard experience, that as soon as an SPS starts to RTN from another coral attack or viral ilness, the best thign to do is start breaking off the good healthy branches UP from the RTN line. they should survive. the toxins spread at a regular rate and if you go downstream, you can save some unpoisoned chunks to start new corals.

once an attack starts, not much stops it. so it's better to frag and start anew, than watch it progress to all the tips.

That has been my experience.

[mattsilvester]

thanks for your replies. I'm the "pro active" type so I think I am going to go with fragging it..... I'd rather takethe risk of fragging it and ending up with a good healthy, butt slightly smaller coral in 6 motnhs time rather than risking it and ending up with none.

Thanks for both your replies - I'm off to buy some super glue gel

cheers,

Matt

[craab]

second the fragging of healthy branches, worked for me in the past.

[wrenchhead]

I had to that to a blue tort I have.Now I have 5 nice colonies and I made back the money I spent on the piece .

[mattsilvester]

Thanks guys,

Well I've done it, and glad I did..... I have half a dozen nice little colonies / frags of each species now, and so far they look like they are doing great..... polyps extending etc. on them already, as though nothing happened.

Cheers,

Matt

[rj ripetide]

You did the right thing..fraggin it...

[ridinfast03]

How are they doing?

[mattsilvester]

Well I did two different corals and one is doing much better than the other.

The frist, which was bar far the more delicate species, and much more badly damaged, is doing great. I got 6 nice little frags, and they really look great, and are starting to colour up.

THe second, which is a pink tipped staghorn type coral is not doing so well at all - it had RTN and it looks like I didn't cut high enough above the dead tissue. I think I am going to have to do it again, and make much smaller frags. I initally made 4, 2 of which have "branches", but I think I am going to have re-do most of them, just takethe top inch off each branch, and litterallyct my losses.

If I manage to get my camera sorted out I'll take some pics.

I'm definitely glad I did it though.

Cheers,

Matt