PD Fragging Advice / Help

[Darren]

I have a local reefer looking for a couple polyps of PD's. I would like to help them out but seem to recall hearing / reading that they are more difficult / riskier to frag than "normal" Zoanthids. Can anyone tell me from experience if this is true? I have a nice colony as pictured below and would hate to lose it. Thanks.

 

[turbois300]

I am sure that they are more delicate but the main issue I think is the toxins in the mucus or slim that can irritate your skin/eyes whereever it gets. Check the spotlight thread and go under the PD link. There is some more info there.

Nice colony by the way!!

 

[ficklefins]

Darren,

First off let me say that is a really nice colony. The best way to frag PD is to try and cut the rock vs removing the polyps individually. Removing individual polyps makes it difficult to glue down with this type. Does this make sense?

 

[surfn]

they are tough to frag.......i always lose a couple in the process.....they are just very very delicate. they also rip very easily.....so i'm not sure if cutting the rock then pulling them apart is a good idea.

i always use a scalpel blade, and go underneath the polyps and try to get as much rock as possible.

 

[Darren]

Thanks folks. Yea it scares me. I have taken good care of this colony and would hate to lose it.

 

[ficklefins]

they are tough to frag.......i always lose a couple in the process.....they are just very very delicate. they also rip very easily.....so i'm not sure if cutting the rock then pulling them apart is a good idea.

i always use a scalpel blade, and go underneath the polyps and try to get as much rock as possible.

That is what I was suggesting, sorry if my directions were confusing.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

The problem is that they are so slippery when they slime and tring to glue little polyps down is like impossible. You'll need to cut down between the polyps and chip the rock off under the polyps as explained in previous post. it can be done though. I haven't lost a polyp.

 

[Darren]

Thanks Rev. I am debating on whether to cut or not. BTW I will take 1 of each in your Avatar!

 

[Hypertek99]

I never have a problem fragging my PD's I would pick out what you want to frag first and take a razor blade and cut in between what you want to frag then from there use a dremel or saw and cut the rock. I wouldn't use the scraping them off method i would cut through the rock. Good Luck

 

[iani]

Yeah I also would only cut through the rock. I've had polyps float away when I scrapped them off the rock and glued them down.