Best size to frag ricordea

[R0L0]

I have a 2-3 inch ricordea and I was wondering what the best size to frag it would be

Thanks

 

[w2inc]

That is easily large enough. There is a lot of latitude. I have cut 1” ricordea into 4 and had great results, as well as the tissue remaining on the rock producing and additional head.

 

[R0L0]

That is easily large enough. There is a lot of latitude. I have cut 1” ricordea into 4 and had great results, as well as the tissue remaining on the rock producing and additional head.

Once I frag it should I glue it onto a frag plug or let it attach by it’s self

 

[w2inc]

Once I frag it should I glue it onto a frag plug or let it attach by it’s self

I haven’t had a lot of luck getting glue to stick to them. I normally get a clear plastic cup and put some chunky coral gravel in the bottom. I put that in the tank and the cut up pieces in there. They will grab onto something after a couple weeks. Then I can pull them out and glue their holdfast onto a plug.

Last time I had a free floating mushroom, I got a really small zip tie and pierced its body right through thee mouth, I pulled the loop closed until it was just beginning to squeeze. From there I used the zip tie to glue the it to the rock. After a month or so it attached to the rock, divided into three and is gathered around the zip tie. I haven’t bothered to pull the zip tie off the rock. I am sure it would work with Ricordea. I think it was Sprung that recommended sticking a plastic party sward toothpick through them, breaking it short and gluing that to the rock. The handle would keep them from sliding off.

 

[R0L0]

I haven’t had a lot of luck getting glue to stick to them. I normally get a clear plastic cup and put some chunky coral gravel in the bottom. I put that in the tank and the cut up pieces in there. They will grab onto something after a couple weeks. Then I can pull them out and glue their holdfast onto a plug.

Last time I had a free floating mushroom, I got a really small zip tie and pierced its body right through thee mouth, I pulled the loop closed until it was just beginning to squeeze. From there I used the zip tie to glue the it to the rock. After a month or so it attached to the rock, divided into three and is gathered around the zip tie. I haven’t bothered to pull the zip tie off the rock. I am sure it would work with Ricordea. I think it was Sprung that recommended sticking a plastic party sward toothpick through them, breaking it short and gluing that to the rock. The handle would keep them from sliding off.

K thanks

 

[R0L0]

I haven’t had a lot of luck getting glue to stick to them. I normally get a clear plastic cup and put some chunky coral gravel in the bottom. I put that in the tank and the cut up pieces in there. They will grab onto something after a couple weeks. Then I can pull them out and glue their holdfast onto a plug.

Last time I had a free floating mushroom, I got a really small zip tie and pierced its body right through thee mouth, I pulled the loop closed until it was just beginning to squeeze. From there I used the zip tie to glue the it to the rock. After a month or so it attached to the rock, divided into three and is gathered around the zip tie. I haven’t bothered to pull the zip tie off the rock. I am sure it would work with Ricordea. I think it was Sprung that recommended sticking a plastic party sward toothpick through them, breaking it short and gluing that to the rock. The handle would keep them from sliding off.

Another question. My ricordea seems to have two mouths how would I go about fragging that? Here is a picture

 

[w2inc]

Cut between the mouths. It is about to divide on its own. Possibly cut the thing it is stuck to along with it. I am not sure if that is an option for you. It looks healthy. You will be amazed with how resilient they are.

 

[R0L0]

Cut between the mouths. It is about to divide on its own.

Is it better to let it divide on its own. And how long would that take till it does that

 

[w2inc]

At least a month? In my low nutrient tank it wold take many months. There is no telling how long to divide on its own. Feed it and it will go faster. My bigger ones eat mysis and just about anything I drop on them. Cut it and separate it and it will go fastest.

Sure there is less risk by doing nothing, and you will also not have to worry about it reattaching. It is really cool to watch them slide sideways over time and leave a trail of tissue that turns into a bunch of other smaller ones. There are lots of ways to enjoy growing them.

Cutting them up is just not as big of a deal as people make it out to be, but there are many less invasive ways to graft them. I have split them by poking a chunk of rock about the size of a car key into the base of them, gluing it down and waiting for them to heal onto it. Then I cut the healed up section away with my rock and both pieces healed and grew. I have cut them off rocks and the tissue left on the rock grew a new polyp. I have had them anchor to rubble and cut each attached piece of rubble off and each one grew. I remember losing one 20 years ago in an unstable tank. I cant remember the details, but it happens some times. These days, cutting up mushrooms (even ricordea) and breaking arms off of my SPS is something I dont hesitate to do.

If it is healthy, if it has been growing, and you are not planning to change the way you filter and light the tank, I just dont think there is much to worry about.

 

[Kremis]

I accidentally ripped my ricordea in two and it still regrew into 2 rics, they are really not that sensative. I removed one from the rocks and the bit that stuck on also regrew into a new one.