Frag or colony, which is harder to care for?

[Tennyson]

It's clear that frags are quite popular because of their lower cost, but is their small size worth risking their survivability? I personally find frags harder to keep healthy. Often they bleach or suffer soon after being introduced, whereas mature colonies seem to tolerate stress better.

One could also argue that older coral grow weaker with time, and a history of setbacks may make them more stubborn or resistant to recovery... What do you think? Share your experiences please!

 

[ca1ore]

Assuming identical species, and that your question is about acquiring one or the other, I find colonies generally harder to get to thrive initially. The reason for this seems relatively self evident. Colonies have adapted to a particular set of physical conditions. The growth form and color of pieces of the same species grown into new colonies can be quite different. Without knowing, and then replicating, these precise physical conditions can result in loss of parts or even of the entire colony. Frags seem much less susceptible to conditions shifting given their initial simpler geometry. That’s been my experience .....

 

[flagg37]

My personal thought is that they are the same. If there is any difference I think it’s very small. Of course this isn’t anything scientific. Looks like a job for @Bulk Reef Supply investigates.

 

[stanleo]

I can't stand frags. Getting them in the right spot is always a pain, depending on what kind, they take forever to grow to a point where they look natural. I would much rather buy something with the rock its attached to and find a place for the rock and the coral. That's why I started my tank with less rock than I will ultimately need. And I am terrified of cutting the coral off those ugly plugs. Why can't they be fragged on coral rubble rather than those stupid plugs? I'm sorry but I really don't like them!!lol I know it's more expensive but I REALLY don't like the plugs!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I go for although more expensive: colonies as they are well established in obtaining their size plus they fill a great amount of space.

 

[Tennyson]

I can't stand frags. Getting them in the right spot is always a pain, depending on what kind, they take forever to grow to a point where they look natural. I would much rather buy something with the rock its attached to and find a place for the rock and the coral. That's why I started my tank with less rock than I will ultimately need. And I am terrified of cutting the coral off those ugly plugs. Why can't they be fragged on coral rubble rather than those stupid plugs? I'm sorry but I really don't like them!!lol I know it's more expensive but I REALLY don't like the plugs!

Haha I'm so with you on this!! I use rubble / direct to the rockwork, makes much more sense. I am definitely guilty of moving new frags around - and noticing they get sick or bleached right after the change.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I would say colonies. For example across and birdsnest coral grow in according to flow and lighting. If you put the coral in an area where flow is now similar to its origional placement there could be low flow zones inside the colony leading to die off.
With frags they have a clean slate and can grow according to your tank

 

[Gino Rodriguez]

I can't stand frags. Getting them in the right spot is always a pain, depending on what kind, they take forever to grow to a point where they look natural. I would much rather buy something with the rock its attached to and find a place for the rock and the coral. That's why I started my tank with less rock than I will ultimately need. And I am terrified of cutting the coral off those ugly plugs. Why can't they be fragged on coral rubble rather than those stupid plugs? I'm sorry but I really don't like them!!lol I know it's more expensive but I REALLY don't like the plugs!

In my opinion frags are more desirable because I’m looking to maintain as much of a clean environment as possible. If I buy a frag if something on a ceramic disk it’s easier to verify if there are tube worms,sponges,aptasia,flatworms, mojanos, or other potential harmful/ invasive forms of life. If you buy the “XL Ultra Favia” attached to the rock and throw it in your tank, even after a dip, that rock is refuge for any other things it’s picked up from every environment it’s ever been in and introducing it to your tank. I’m looking to maintain a pure environment that is as conducive to maximizing coral health and limiting risk factors to the synthetic reef ecosystem.

 

[SPR1968]

Assuming identical species, and that your question is about acquiring one or the other, I find colonies generally harder to get to thrive initially. The reason for this seems relatively self evident. Colonies have adapted to a particular set of physical conditions. The growth form and color of pieces of the same species grown into new colonies can be quite different. Without knowing, and then replicating, these precise physical conditions can result in loss of parts or even of the entire colony. Frags seem much less susceptible to conditions shifting given their initial simpler geometry. That’s been my experience .....

This is exactly what I’ve found, but it took me a few years to realise it.

Most large established colonies I’ve had, didn’t make it over a relatively short period of say a few months, were as I have no problem keeping and growing small frags of a similar or same type

It hit me one day that I’d been buying these things and I had none left. So I don’t buy large colonies any more.

I think they become accustomed to a certain set of parameters and then don’t adept well to new ones. We know how sensitive corals can be to even minor changes.

 

[ca1ore]

I do 'get' the instant gratification nature of buying colonies (though that was not the original question). It is quite remarkable, though, how quickly small frags will grow into colonies under favorable conditions. Takes longer for frags to outgrow a tank, which is another reason I favor them.

 

[Tennyson]

Assuming identical species, and that your question is about acquiring one or the other, I find colonies generally harder to get to thrive initially. The reason for this seems relatively self evident. Colonies have adapted to a particular set of physical conditions. The growth form and color of pieces of the same species grown into new colonies can be quite different. Without knowing, and then replicating, these precise physical conditions can result in loss of parts or even of the entire colony. Frags seem much less susceptible to conditions shifting given their initial simpler geometry. That’s been my experience .....

Great point. I also find overgrown corals to be difficult due to their size and additional needs.

Here's a quick story about my parent colony of tubatraea (bottom left corner) and its frags (right). See the difference? On most days the parent's polyps are rarely as extended as its babies. It is still 'healthy', but will refuse food more often and is slower to bounce back from a setback than the frags. Someone would definitely be better off taking a frag from one of the babies than the entire parent colony.

 

[Tennyson]

But, I still find frags more difficult. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but nearly all the frags I buy experience some period of bleaching/regression. I'm talking goni frags, ricordea, even palys. It takes forever for some frags to settle in let alone recover from bleaching.

Notice a non-bleached goni colony top left.