Shattered torch skeleton

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

I just got this beautiful torch from a local coral farmers market trade show. I was attempting to remove it from the frag plug and I accidentally crushed the skeleton. I had to hold it together with my fingers to keep it from completely falling apart into multiple pieces. I carefully wrapped the skeleton together with epoxy and placed it on the rock it appears to be very stressed out But okay at the moment. I will update if it survives or not

Zach B · Apr 9, 2022

So sorry to hear, I have had a hammer that was nearly crushed by falling rock. It did recover even after being quite cracked all over the stem. Keep your system stable and hope for the best. It sounds like you handled it the best you could though, good thinking. I wish you the best of luck and hope yours recovers as well

Lavey29 · Apr 9, 2022

Will be interesting to see if it calcifies over its injuries. I dont like frag plugs glued to rocks but if the coral does not detach easily then I just leave the round plug on. Figure coraline will cover it eventually anyway.

Nick Steele · Apr 9, 2022

I cracked/chipped my octospawn when trying to do the same thing. I left it alone and in time a sponge grew in/around the chip and it’s doing fine now.

Sean Clark · Apr 9, 2022

I had a single head torch recover from a cracked skeleton and has since split multiple times.

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

Sean Clark said:
I had a single head torch recover from a cracked skeleton and has since split multiple times.

That’s good to hear i was really worried at first only had the frag for like an hour and thought it was an automatic goner. Definitely gonna be more careful next time

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Will be interesting to see if it calcifies over its injuries. I dont like frag plugs glued to rocks but if the coral does not detach easily then I just leave the round plug on. Figure coraline will cover it eventually anyway.

Yeah I was being careless and attempted to break the frag off of the plug I learned my lesson. I’ve done it with other corals and didn’t expect this torch to be so fragile

polyppal · Apr 9, 2022

Been there done that, sorry

never had success with it healing after a head crack, if it starts wasting away toss it and have a drink

seant2h · Apr 9, 2022

I did the same with a hammer and now it’s a month or so after supergluing it back together and all is well. I hope it happens for you too.

Edit… ps I did an iodine dip before gluing it back together

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

polyppal said:
Been there done that, sorry

never had success with it healing after a head crack, if it starts wasting away toss it and have a drink

Lol thanks for the advice of that happens I will for sure

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

seant2h said:
I did the same with a hammer and now it’s a month or so after supergluing it back together and all is well. I hope it happens for you too.

Edit… ps I did an iodine dip before gluing it back together

dang yeah I was thinking about dipping it but was too scared to keep messing with it so I just putting it together and left it alone. Glad yours recovered

Lavey29 · Apr 9, 2022

jonnythekid said:
Lol thanks for the advice of that happens I will for sure

Leave it in till the polyps bail out. You may hit the lottery and get a baby torch somewhere.

Waynerock · Apr 9, 2022

jonnythekid said:
I just got this beautiful torch from a local coral farmers market trade show. I was attempting to remove it from the frag plug and I accidentally crushed the skeleton. I had to hold it together with my fingers to keep it from completely falling apart into multiple pieces. I carefully wrapped the skeleton together with epoxy and placed it on the rock it appears to be very stressed out But okay at the moment. I will update if it survives or not

While cutting a nice gold the skeleton split all the way up to the head. The flesh was literally the only thing keeping it together. I glued it like you did and left it alone and it’s a monster now. Your biggest enemy relight now is bacteria. Good luck I think you will be ok. Here is the torch 8 months after splitting the head in half!

jonnythekid · Apr 9, 2022

Waynerock said:
While cutting a nice gold the skeleton split all the way up to the head. The flesh was literally the only thing keeping it together. I glued it like you did and left it alone and it’s a monster now. Your biggest enemy relight now is bacteria. Good luck I think you will be ok. Here is the torch 8 months after splitting the head in half!

That’s awesome man I’m glad I’m not the only one. Hopefully mine makes it to that size. Did you dip it?

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Apr 9, 2022

seant2h said:
I did the same with a hammer and now it’s a month or so after supergluing it back together and all is well. I hope it happens for you too.

Edit… ps I did an iodine dip before gluing it back together

I was going to suggest an iodide dip.

PeterEde · Apr 10, 2022

jonnythekid said:
I just got this beautiful torch from a local coral farmers market trade show. I was attempting to remove it from the frag plug and I accidentally crushed the skeleton. I had to hold it together with my fingers to keep it from completely falling apart into multiple pieces. I carefully wrapped the skeleton together with epoxy and placed it on the rock it appears to be very stressed out But okay at the moment. I will update if it survives or not

I did the same thing once. It died.

jonnythekid · Apr 22, 2022

After around 2 weeks the torch is alive and kicking

Bogdan21 · Mar 16, 2023

jonnythekid said:
After around 2 weeks the torch is alive and kicking

How is it now? Curious to see

john/ · Dec 28, 2023

jonnythekid said:
I just got this beautiful torch from a local coral farmers market trade show. I was attempting to remove it from the frag plug and I accidentally crushed the skeleton. I had to hold it together with my fingers to keep it from completely falling apart into multiple pieces. I carefully wrapped the skeleton together with epoxy and placed it on the rock it appears to be very stressed out But okay at the moment. I will update if it survives or not

I did the same thing I’m so mad and sad … sorry I feel your pain… hope it pulls through I put some reef glue on mine it was good for about a month and it seems to be doing bad again…. Took it out and put some more glue… last shot then I’m just going to toss it…. It’s starting to brown jelly on the rim

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 29, 2023

john/ said:
I did the same thing I’m so mad and sad … sorry I feel your pain… hope it pulls through I put some reef glue on mine it was good for about a month and it seems to be doing bad again…. Took it out and put some more glue… last shot then I’m just going to toss it…. It’s starting to brown jelly on the rim

If it's really brown jelly, it will overtake the entire coral (flesh) within 12-24 hours. Turns it into a brown jelly-like mush... Hence the name.
If you have something "on the rim" that's been there more than a day, it's not BJD (and therefore the coral might still be saved).