So i have a small colonie of watermelon zoas on a frag plug that seem to be growing rather fast in its recent days, i was thinking about fragging a few individual polyps off the frag plug its self and gluing them to a branch rock i have. How should i go about doing this? Also will this effect the growth rate? :scratch:
Fragging individual Zoanthid polyps?
- Thread starter Rich91
- Start date
While I understand the desire to see as many corals (even if they are frags) around your tank, you may want to go with a slower but more sure fire method.
Glue a small piece of rock rubble next to your current frag and let them naturally grow onto there...or you can just cut the frag you have in half (with bone cutters and cut the remainder of the frag with a razor blade) and glue that onto your branch rock.
Attempting to cut off an individual zoa polyp can be if-fy business because they shrink/expand as they open and close. If you glue it while it is open, it may shrink so much when it closes that it simply blows off the the glue..
Be sure if you are fragging any zoas/palys that you are wearing rubber gloves and eye protection!!
Glue a small piece of rock rubble next to your current frag and let them naturally grow onto there...or you can just cut the frag you have in half (with bone cutters and cut the remainder of the frag with a razor blade) and glue that onto your branch rock.
Attempting to cut off an individual zoa polyp can be if-fy business because they shrink/expand as they open and close. If you glue it while it is open, it may shrink so much when it closes that it simply blows off the the glue..
Be sure if you are fragging any zoas/palys that you are wearing rubber gloves and eye protection!!
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Like Kathy said, it'll be much less stressful if you're able to cut the frag plug in half rather than trying to remove them from it.
The frag is still pretty small, not sure what you consider growing fast. I'd leave it in place until it grows out more. If you do decide to remove from the plug make sure you get the polyps to close first, cut in between polyps (avoid the base), then slowly scrape the polyps off working your way around the perimeter and towards the center.
The frag is still pretty small, not sure what you consider growing fast. I'd leave it in place until it grows out more. If you do decide to remove from the plug make sure you get the polyps to close first, cut in between polyps (avoid the base), then slowly scrape the polyps off working your way around the perimeter and towards the center.
Nandez, thanks for the advice. When you say avoid the base what do you mean by that? And I mean the growth rate picked up because about two months ago it was only 4 polyps I notice new ones along the edge each week and this started happening recently. I just don't want to disturb it. I just don't like the look of frag plugs on the LR
- Location
- Howell, NJ
Cut the plug part off :wink1:
I've had success using a straight blade. I have never lost a polyp this way. i know it's not the preferred method but it works especially if your trying to get a specific amount of polyps or hard to get. I try to get the most obvious ones so that also helps.
With straight blade on zoas, they close up and you cut accordingly. Make sure you STAY at the bottom of the zoa. You obviously don't want to cut it half way or anything. This is when they are already on a plug. Otherwise if its on a rock rubble or something, a lot harder to work with. Make sure you use gloves and eyewear if necessary. I just keep it a safe distance away.
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