Fragging a Palau Green Nepthea coral

[Azurel]

I have this Nepthea that is getting over grown, and I am thinking of fragging it. I have had this coral for over 5 years and started out a half inch frag. What is the best way to frag it? I know they can be toxic and want to frag it outside the tank. I am thinking of useing the rubberband and toothpick method for holding it down till it attaches. I just don't know the best way to frag it....Any info would be great either from expeireance or a site that can describe it. I would like toget about 5-10 frags and start over with it.This thing is about 12 inches when fully open........Here is a crappy pic of it....Thanks for the help....

Top down.....

 

[Randy]

AZ it is easy to frag use a sharp pair of seissors or exacto knife and cut it at a y on a branch.make a clean cut and it will heal faster than torn cut from my exp.. You can use the toothpic method or use some fishing line and needle to sew it to the frag plug just stick the neddle through the middle of the stalk a few times and wrap it around and tie.

 

[Azurel]

When you say at a y do you mean cut off the branch that is coming out of the other branch? Like the y here cut off the limb on the left side of the y?Or don't it matter?

Thanks for the info Randy...

 

[Randy]

yes cut them at the left side of the y.If you cut the whole y it takes longer to grow back out.If you want larger frags cut the whole y off just below it.It will grow a new branch at the cut when you cut one side off.

You can also do a bonzi cut and form the branch around wire to get that cool oriental look.jk

 

[Azurel]

LOL...Thanks Randy for the info....I appreciate it...

 

[msman825]

I have a big one too Az. I been cutting mine off throwing in the garbage for over a year now

 

[msman825]

done gave frags too everyone local

 

[reefboy]

hmmmm well looks alot like mine but was told it was sinularia but should frag the same what i do is cut ware it as a y in the branch then find a rock with a indention that you can put a rubber band on to hold it there but make sure that its not putting pressure on frag otherwise it will cut in half. Will attach in about 5 days.

 

[Azurel]

This isn't as polypy as a sinularia, the pics suck but from everything I have found it matches the Palau to a T. It was giving to me as a freebie many years ago and the receipt said Palau nepthea, but the person I got it from is suspect. So over the years I have looked identified and re-identified it just to be sure.....All the pics of Sinularia have a lot more polyps and look more feathery, this really never puts out a lot of polyps......

Thanks for re-enforcing the info on fragging it....

 

[reefboy]

yea after looking at mine it is much fuzzier but not much dif otherwise lol.

 

[Azurel]

True, what do you think of the toxicity of them? I don't want to frag in-side the tank of course but do you think that if I frag off say 5-6 frags that it could begin to play chemical warfare cause it is stressed?

 

[reefboy]

whats water volume you may want to stage them to be safe if its a 100gal or less may effect some stuff.

 

[Azurel]

I have 40g long with about 30x flow....I run carbon as well, I have a 18g nano that is not well taken care of but up and operating I could put them in there. That's why I asked I have heard they are quite toxic and I don't want to take chances in the main display if its going to be playing Russian roulette....