John Miller
Mushroom corals are individual large, fleshy polyps that grow on rocks. They are easy to frag because they can reproduce by splitting or budding, and any sliver of mushroom coral can reproduce a new polyp. To frag a mushroom coral, you first need to separate it from the rock it is attached to. Then, using a sharp knife or razor blade, cut the coral across the column, leaving the attachment disc behind. This will produce a lot of mucus and expose the white filaments of the animal's gut, which can be rinsed off before placing the coral frag in a holding bath of aquarium water. After some time, the damaged stalk will grow a new head, and the frag will attach to the rock.
How to Frag a Mushroom Coral
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why frag mushroom corals? | To prevent overgrowth, sell or trade |
| Preparation | Wear gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. Lay paper towels over the work surface. |
| Tools | A sharp knife, razor blade, or fragging scissors |
| Cutting | Cut the coral across the column, separating it from the rock it is attached to. Rinse the frags to remove mucus and white filaments. |
| Propagation | Place the frag in a small bowl with aquarium water. After a brief dip, place it on a live rock piece outside the bowl. Alternatively, use a small dab of reef glue to attach the frag to a rock. |
| Placement | Put the coral frag in an area of your tank with low flow and moderate lighting. |
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What You'll Learn
Preparation and safety precautions
Fragging corals for the first time can be stressful and challenging, so it is important to be well-prepared and take the proper safety precautions. Before you begin, it is recommended to allow your chosen specimen to grow in your aquarium for several months so that it is happy and healthy.
When you are ready to frag, set up a designated work area. Lay down paper towels over your work surface to prevent a mess from handling wet coral. Gather your tools and safety equipment. You will need gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask. These safety precautions are crucial and should not be skipped.
For fragging tools, you will need two sizes of bone cutters, a razor blade or scalpel, and fragging scissors. For mounting, you will need glue, frag putty, frag plugs, frag tiles, a container for holding the frags, and a place to put the frags, such as live rock rubble or a frag plug.
If you are fragging Zoanthids and Palythoa, it is important to note that these varieties can release palytoxin when stressed. This toxin can enter the body through direct contact with the skin or eyes, or by inhalation. Be sure to wear hand, eye, and mouth protection when working with these varieties.
Mushroom corals, in particular, can be tricky to attach to the rock or substrate. One method that has proven successful is using rubble in a small plastic container.
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Cutting the mushroom coral
Mushroom corals are commonly regarded as a good starting point for beginners looking to frag coral. They grow on rocks as individual large, fleshy polyps and can reproduce themselves by splitting or budding.
Before cutting the mushroom coral, it is important to let it grow in your aquarium undisturbed for several months. Once it is happy, healthy, and has grown, you can start the process of fragging.
Firstly, set up your work area. As you will be handling a wet coral, it is recommended to lay down paper towels to prevent a splash zone. You should also have a stash of band-aids ready in case of any accidents.
When it comes to cutting the mushroom coral, you will need a very sharp knife or blade. Craft knives with curved blades are preferred by some as they can generate a clean downward cut, but a straight-edged blade will also work. Simply cut the coral across the column, leaving the attachment disc behind. You will notice a large amount of mucus and the white filaments of the animal's gut, which can be discarded. It is a good idea to rinse the frags to remove this "goo" before placing them in another holding bath of aquarium water.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that frags grow better when a small piece of the central oral cavity is left in each resulting frag. As such, when cutting the disc into pieces, use the oral cavity as a starting point for each cut and leave some of this tissue behind in each segment.
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Removing the coral from the rock
To physically remove the coral from the rock, you can use a clean razor blade or a sharp blade, such as a craft knife or a straight edge blade. One technique is to start cutting from the centre of the mouth and work outwards towards the edge, which will cause the coral to split or shoot out a baby mushroom at the cut spot. Another method is to use a hammer and chisel to break small pieces of the colony rock off under the mushroom. This eliminates the need for low-flow settlement areas or labour-intensive attaching procedures.
It is important to wear gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask during the fragging process to ensure safety. Before beginning, it is recommended to gather all the necessary tools and equipment and lay them out logically to make the cutting and mounting process more efficient.
After removing the coral from the rock, the coral frag can be placed in a small bowl with aquarium water. It is normal to see some white stringy material and brown ooze, as this is the coral's natural response to an injury. The frag can then be removed from the water and placed on a live rock piece outside the bowl. The rock and frag can be wrapped with plastic mesh and secured with a rubber band before being placed in an area of the tank with low flow.
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Attaching the coral to a new rock
Prepare the Coral
Before you begin, it is important to ensure that your coral is healthy and well-established. Allow your coral specimen to grow in your aquarium for several months before attempting to frag it. During this time, provide it with optimal conditions, such as lower-intensity lighting and moderate flow levels, which are ideal for mushroom corals.
Gather the Right Tools
Fragging coral requires specific tools and materials. You will need a very sharp knife or a razor blade for cutting the coral. Craft knives with curved blades are often preferred for their ease of making clean cuts. Other useful tools include paper towels, band-aids, gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask for safety.
Cut the Coral
When you're ready to frag, set up a clean work area and lay down paper towels to manage any splashes. Carefully cut the coral with your chosen tool, separating it from the rock it is attached to. You will notice a reduction in size, with a narrower column and a visible attachment disc. Rinse the frags to remove any mucus or white filaments generated during the cutting process.
Prepare the New Rock
Fill a small bowl with clean aquarium water and place the coral frag inside. You may notice some white stringy material and brown ooze, which is a natural response to the injury. Remove the frag from the water and place it on the new rock outside the bowl. Wrap the rock and frag with plastic mesh, securing it with a rubber band.
Attach the Coral to the New Rock
Place the wrapped frag and rock in an area of your tank with low flow. At this stage, it's important to be patient. Over time, you will observe the damaged stalk of the coral growing a new discoid-shaped head. Simultaneously, the frag will start to attach itself to the new rock. Once the attachment is secure, you can remove the plastic mesh and glue the new rock with the attached coral to your desired location in the aquarium.
By following these steps, you will successfully attach your mushroom coral to a new rock, allowing you to expand your coral colony or share your success with fellow aquarium enthusiasts.
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Caring for the coral as it regenerates
Coral restoration is the act of growing corals and then planting them in the wild. It is a popular method of coral reef conservation. However, it is important to reduce local threats to coral reefs for this method to be effective. For example, if corals are planted in an area with wastewater pollution or overfishing, their chances of survival are slim.
To give coral reefs the best chance of survival, it is important to address the root causes of coral reef destruction. This includes reducing carbon emissions, transitioning to clean energy, and adopting sustainable production methods. Additionally, it is crucial to curb climate change and ensure that ocean temperatures do not rise to levels that corals cannot tolerate.
Another way to care for regenerating coral is to join worldwide coral regeneration schemes. These schemes aim to restore reef systems and promote sustainable oceans. Volunteers can work with marine biologists and divers to help with coral regeneration. For example, the Coral Restoration Foundation, founded by Ken Nedimyer, welcomes volunteer divers to assist with various tasks such as diving programs, volunteering, citizen science, and educational activities.
Furthermore, it is important to address the human impacts on coral reefs. This includes reducing sediment runoff, removing invasive algae, and preventing overfishing. By working together and taking action on both a global and local scale, we can create the conditions necessary for coral reefs to adapt to changing environments and restore their health.
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Frequently asked questions
First, separate the mushroom coral from the rock it is attached to. Then, using a sharp knife or razor blade, cut the coral across the column, leaving the attachment disc behind. Rinse the frags to remove any mucus and discard the white filaments of the animal's gut.
You will need a sharp knife or razor blade, paper towels, band-aids, gloves, eye protection, a dust mask, and a small bowl or container filled with aquarium water.
There are two primary techniques for propagating mushroom corals: one in the water and one out. To get them to split more rapidly, use a clean razor blade to cut them, starting at the centre of the mouth and working outwards. This will cause them to either split or shoot out a baby mushroom at the cut spot.
After fragging, place the coral frag in an area of your tank with low flow and return the rock with the parent colony to its original location. Wait for the damaged stalk to grow a new discoid-shaped head and for the frag to attach to the live rock piece. Once settled, you can remove any plastic mesh or glue used to secure the frag.
Yes, it is important to wear gloves, eye protection, and a dust mask when fragging mushroom coral to protect yourself from injury. It is also recommended to have band-aids on hand in case of accidental cuts.
