Need to Frag...

[Poseidon]

I need to Frag my Galaxia and Hammer Corals... They are getting WAY WAY to BIG...

Does anyone have any ideas on the Galaxia, it is at least 6"x8" and shaped like a Fist!!!

The Hammer Coral I just plan on breaking some of the heads off cleanly, near the origianl base... It has grown tremendously too...

[Poseidon]

Here is a pic of my Galaxia, it is the one I'm most concerned about. Each of the polyps have a VERY fragile skeleton under them and I don't want to damage it too much...

[zhenya]

Here is a pic of my Galaxia, it is the one I'm most concerned about. Each of the polyps have a VERY fragile skeleton under them and I don't want to damage it too much...

Hi Mike,

Do you have Anthony Calfo's Book of Coral Propagation ? I have one and looked up a Galaxea propagation technique and according to this book it is mostly done with power tools
He says : "Galaxea, as previously mentioned, are fused colonies of individual corallites.Each "cylinder" crowned with a polyp can theoretically live on it's own when separated.Coral farmers take colonies of Galaxea and rip paths between the corallites with an electric saw.Wire saw blades work well for this approach.The technique is not necessarily graceful and some individual corallites will be damaged or destroyed.However, a large colony of galaxy coral contains hundreds of individual corallites,which may be separated comfortably into tens of sections of individual colonies. Propagated divisions laid on their side or against hard surfaces will quickly encrust and continue to grow."

If no one answers on the Euphyllia propagating techniques I'll look it up in Anthony's book and will type it for you or scan it ;)

Good luck!

[Poseidon]

Wow!! Thanks Gene!!! Sounds like the NUCLEAR APPROACH!!! I put that book on my short list.

[Elmo18]

I also have a Galaxea coral near the bottom of the sandbed Mike.

When i moved it from a higher location, i found that they are very fragile indeed. Even when I was holding it, i could my thumb crush some of the polyps. I would just do it nice and fast and either split it in half (mine is like a shelf, bending a little in the center). I love their sweeper tentacles...well xcept when it struck an acro frag. I moved it down, then.

- Elmo

[Poseidon]

Thanks Elmo. THe deed is done. I used Hammer and CHISEL!!! WEll big ol Screwdriver anyway. I reduced the Galaxia by 25% or so, now it fits into my rockwork a little better. I think I need to take another 10% off or so still.

The HAmmer was a BREEZE, kinda like pulling a wishbone. It had 2 Main sections that came apart very nicely, leaving me with a single piece 50% the size of the original, and 3 NICE frags with 3-4 heads on each one. I'm planning on taking the Galaxia, Hammer, and some MORE XENIA up to a LFS for some store credit, probably get some snails and MAYBE another small fish. I have 9 fish now, don't want to get TOO MANY!!!

Thanks for the replies, I'll take a couple pics before I get rid of the frags, and post them later.

[Tattooedlife]

Hey Mike,
Have you had any luck propagating Colt coral. I've tried twice, but just can't get it to attach. I've tried the toothpick, and also tried just sticking to the rock with rubberbands. Any suggestions?

[Poseidon]

Never tried the Colt Coral. I usually just stick the Xenia in a hole though, and it attached itself overnight. I did try using CA (cyanoacrylate Crazy glue)glue once, seemed to do more damage then anything else.

[Tattooedlife]

Never tried the Colt Coral. I usually just stick the Xenia in a hole though, and it attached itself overnight. I did try using CA (cyanoacrylate Crazy glue)glue once, seemed to do more damage then anything else.

I tried again last night. Took two cuttings. Used needle and fishing line, only thing that concerned me was i tied a knot with the fishing line in the needle eye. It was kind of hard to pull the not through the frag. (Should have just doubled the line through the needle and not used a knot.) I peirced through the frags with the fishing line two times to make sure they would hold. Or atleast I hope they do. They both look pretty good today. There poplyps are partialy open. Only time will tell, I guess.

[Poseidon]

Hope it works out for you. I took my frags to the LFS today and got a SMALL Majestic angle. He is very cool, I just hope he leaves my corals alone!!!

[Tattooedlife]

Hope it works out for you. I took my frags to the LFS today and got a SMALL Majestic angle. He is very cool, I just hope he leaves my corals alone!!!

Both frags seem to be doing great. One of them is starting to attach. I'm gonna give them about another week and a half, then cut the fishing line loose.Then hopefully I'll have two more colts. Now if I just had some xenia. ;) Hint, Hint

[Poseidon]

Soon... we are having another one of those weird weather weekends. Today it is 63, tomorrow it is supposed to SNOW!!!

[Tattooedlife]

Soon... we are having another one of those weird weather weekends. Today it is 63, tomorrow it is supposed to SNOW!!!

Weather here has been in upper 60's lower 70's all week. Sucks because I've got a motorcycle and it has rained or theres been a chance of rain all week. Can't wait till spring gets here. Can't wait till my xenia gets here...lol

[Penguin]

I need to frag my Galaxea but I'm nervous about it. I don't want to screw up and kill it. I don't have a Dremel, so I will have to use the hammer and chisel method. Any tips?

[Poseidon]

WOW! What an old thread... It is still relevant though, I have since moved on to the HACKSAW method, it is a little more precise then the hammer and screwdriver. Just cut away, you WILL lose/destroy some polyps, but not that many if you are careful.

[kevinpo]

I also use the hacksaw method sometimes. A pair of clippers for trimming small tree branches is my tool of choice for most hard corals.

Regards,
Kevin

[Penguin]

I wouldn't have thought of using a hacksaw. I think I will try that. Thanks.