Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Fish Breeding & Coral Propagation => Topic started by: bkvreef on April 10, 2009, 21:20:07

Title: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: bkvreef on April 10, 2009, 21:20:07

I bought a some rhodactis mushrooms several weeks ago and they are doing great (thanks coral ranch).  However, they are getting huge and overcrowding is a concern.  Will they migrate to more open areas?
Is there any easy way to frag them to create more room or can I remove several without causing major problems?

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: jeblin on April 10, 2009, 22:28:05

I'm pretty sure you can frag them just like a normal mushroom ( razor blade through the center, cut the head off the foot, etc ). I think you want part of the mouth on each frag though so you want to make sure you cut fairly accurately. If you want to just move some, you can use a chisel/screwdriver and slowly chip the rock away where its attached. Once you get it loose, just glue the rock chips its foot is still attached to another rock.

If you decide to frag, there's a good thread on here from LazyLivin (if I remember correctly) about how to get the frags attached to rocks.



If I'm wrong, then someone please correct me. I fragged my regular red mushrooms like this and it worked pretty well.

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: lazylivin on April 10, 2009, 22:40:50

Here ya go http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=4609.0 (http://www.ohioreef.com/index.php?topic=4609.0)

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: bkvreef on April 10, 2009, 23:24:19

Thanks the guys at coral ranch showed me that way and I already used it (I don't know who came up with it but it has worked great).
jeblin,
you said cut the head off the foot?  Does that mean cut it like you're cutting a tree down or like you would cut a pizza?

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: UD Flyer on April 11, 2009, 00:14:12

Quote from: bkvreef on April 10, 2009, 23:24:19

Thanks the guys at coral ranch showed me that way and I already used it (I don't know who came up with it but it has worked great).
jeblin,
you said cut the head off the foot?  Does that mean cut it like you're cutting a tree down or like you would cut a pizza?

I think jeblin meant cutting like a pizza, but only into two pieces.

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: bkvreef on April 11, 2009, 09:43:00

That's what I thought but I just wanted to make sure.

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: jeblin on April 11, 2009, 09:51:13

Quote from: bkvreef on April 10, 2009, 23:24:19

Thanks the guys at coral ranch showed me that way and I already used it (I don't know who came up with it but it has worked great).
jeblin,
you said cut the head off the foot?  Does that mean cut it like you're cutting a tree down or like you would cut a pizza?

I've read of people cutting the head off the foot (like a lumberjack) and the foot grows another head as well.

http://www.fragoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229 (http://www.fragoutpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229)

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: verper on April 11, 2009, 09:56:22

I've also read where you can cut a wedge off the foot to propagate.  Everything stays attached to the rock, but the wedge grows another mushroom or ricordia.

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: bkvreef on April 11, 2009, 10:08:03

I always wondered about that.  Some of my mushrooms seem to move and as they leave a little bit of the foot and that ends up growing into another mushroom.  Could you recreate this by cutting a chunk off the bottom (not like cutting a tree down but just taking a wedge out)?

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: Reefd Up on April 11, 2009, 10:14:42

What color are the rhodactis...if you frag an extra one that I don't have yet...I might be interested!  :)

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: bkvreef on April 15, 2009, 07:27:37

Quote from: Reef'd Up on April 11, 2009, 10:14:42

What color are the rhodactis...if you frag an extra one that I don't have yet...I might be interested!  :)

I posted a picture of them on the member tank profiles: bkvreef 220.
Actually they are a little darker than that more of a purplish hue to them.

Title: Re: rhodactis fragging/moving
Post by: Arcade_Guy on April 15, 2009, 19:10:47

i had a nice green & purple long tentacle rhodactis and for some reason it melted :( i'd be interested in trying more if & when anyone frags some out, they are pretty sweet