Tree Trunk for a Toadstool Stem!

dbl · Jul 11, 2015

The toadstool in the picture below had reached about 14-15". So, as my first fragging event ever, I trimmed around it's head and it's now about 6". That was a month or so ago and it has healed nicely and is doing well.

My question...can I cut the base of this thing down some? Hard to tell in this picture, but the stem/base is about 7" long and it has to be around 3" in circumference. Can I cut it to where the base is much shorter and more near the head? If that is okay, will the remaining stem only portion grow in to anything or does it simply get disposed? Hopefully my questions makes sense.

Your help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Rattooth · Jul 11, 2015

You can cut the entire top off , and sale , trade , trash, move and a new tiny one will grow from stub. In my experience they are almost impossible to kill. So you have options .

dbl · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks Rattooth...it's kind of what I thought, but wanted to make sure.

PapaDragon · Jul 11, 2015

Not trying to hijack your thread, but I've got a huge toadstool too. I've had him for four years now and wasn't sure how to frag him.

My tank is 6ft long and the toadstool is 12-15 inches on the top.

Webslinger · Jul 11, 2015

Have you ever heard of google?

There are some good fraging videos out there

dbl · Jul 11, 2015

PapaDragon...I actually attended youtube.com university to figure out how to frag the head of my Toadstool. I just cut around the head in a semi-circular pattern so you end up with a somewhat natural looking mushroom, and not a perfect circle. I used the rubber band method to attach the 8-10 pieces I ended up with to frag plugs. I wish I would have just cut it off at the head the first time around.

PapaDragon · Jul 11, 2015

What is this google you speak of?

I've seen the videos and just can't bring myself to cut the top off.

dbl · Jul 11, 2015

Go for it Papa...my toadstool was one of the first things I put in my tank, and I was nervous. After I cut the crap out of it, I told my wife I was pretty sure I killed the darn thing. Within a day or two, I was proven wrong! It's already grown since I did it a month ago. Now on to the tree trunk!!!

LetItReef · Jul 12, 2015

Im on the same page here. So if I cut the Toadstool trunk since it is growing tall ,I can cut up few inches of the trunk and just glue it back to a rock and it will survive?

PapaDragon · Jul 12, 2015

dbl said:
PapaDragon...I actually attended youtube.com university to figure out how to frag the head of my Toadstool. I just cut around the head in a semi-circular pattern so you end up with a somewhat natural looking mushroom, and not a perfect circle. I used the rubber band method to attach the 8-10 pieces I ended up with to frag plugs. I wish I would have just cut it off at the head the first time around.

Thanks for the advice. I think my major hesitation is that it's one of my oldest corals.

dbl · Jul 30, 2015

Just as a follow up, and in case someone stumbles on this thread with the same question, I ended up cutting the top off and the toadstool is doing just fine.

PapaDragon · Jul 30, 2015

The entire top? Any photos?

cloak · Jul 30, 2015

I just did this to my Toadstool the other day. I handled the coral quite a bit first so that it would shrink up and then took a sharp pair of scissors and just lopped the top off. It looked a little weird for awhile, but after 4 months or so it grew right back..

dbl · Jul 30, 2015

PapaDragon said:
The entire top? Any photos?

Yes, the entire top, or cap. I had already trimmed it a few months ago, just cut the stem off this time. Here it is, although lights are already very low and obviously blue. I will remove the tooth picks I used to hold it to the rock this weekend.

PapaDragon · Jul 30, 2015

Oh my gosh! I may get the nerve up this weekend to do mine.

philfree · Jul 30, 2015

I've had this one for a little over two years. When the disc gets too big I just chop the head off, either sell or donate to a reefer or lfs. Never bothered cutting around the stem like some people do. They're pretty resilient.

philfree · Jul 30, 2015

cloak said:
I just did this to my Toadstool the other day. I handled the coral quite a bit first so that it would shrink up and then took a sharp pair of scissors and just lopped the top off. It looked a little weird for awhile, but after 4 months or so it grew right back..

Yup, thats what i do. Off with its head!

PapaDragon · Jul 30, 2015

Do you run carbon after you cut the head off?

philfree · Jul 30, 2015

I do. But mainly cause i cant take out the rock its on, so i have to cut in the tank. If you can take it out, and rinse in a bucket of freshly made SW, you shouldnt have to.