Never tied to frag

auximage · Feb 23, 2008

Never tried to frag

So I have a rock that is literally covered in mushrooms, and I'm wanting to try and take them off, and attach to frag plugs. The rock itself is pretty weak, so I'm wondering if I can just cut out the rock that the mushroom are attached to (basically run a ring around the stalk where it's attached). My other thought was actually cutting the stalk at the very base, but don't know if that's going to kill the mushroom or not. Like I said, I've never tried to fragment or re-attach anything before.

I'm assuming that if I do get these off, I can just use superglue to attach the stalk (or rock piece) to the frag plug. Any pointers or advice is appreciated.

*edited for spelling

ServantSoldier · Feb 23, 2008

Mushrooms are super hardy. You can cut them off the rock and they will be fine. The foot that is left on the rock will grow back as well. I dont' know how your are going to mount them to a frag plug. I would put them in a bowl with rock rubble and let them attach to something on their own. Have fun.

auximage · Feb 25, 2008

Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping to frag a green star polyp as well. Are there any good places out there I should read up at re: fragging different corals? I wasn't able to find much via google.

msman825 · Feb 25, 2008

http://www.reefvideos.com/

Russellaqua · Feb 25, 2008

There are several ways to move mushrooms. One is to cut at the base. The old base will regrow into a new mushroom. Place the cap in a dish of small rocks and eventually it will attach. This will take weeks as it must regrow a new foot. Also, getting the current right can be tricky. Too much to coral blows away, too little and it is subject to protozoan infections that can kill it. If possible I recommend turning to rock upside down. The mushroom will either let go completely or will sever itself by growing a new foot and a new cap all at once. These will quickly attach to a frag plug. Star polyps are easy to frag. Simply peel the mat from the rock and attach it to the plug with super glue. Because they are such fast growers they'll cover the area you took the frag from in no time. Glue will not work with mushrooms as they simply slime themselves off.