How to Frag a Green Toadstool?

[focus]

Getting rather large and was considering fragging it, it is a true green polyp toad stool and if there is any chance I might kill it I guess I'll let it be.

Whats the process??

Thanks

Rob

 

[JohnK]

In general toadstools are one of the easiest corals to frag (the bright yellow figi elegans are another story though).

If your nervous about it, try cutting a little slice off of the edge of the crown. Stick a plastic toothpic through it, then rubberband it gently onto a rock.

 

[focus]

Thanks I'll give it a shot.
So the frag will grow a new base and attach itself?

 

[JohnK]

Yup, the shape will be funny for a while but it will grow into a normal colony pretty quickly. I think they start looking normal faster if the cut frag has a bit of the top so it has some polyps to start with, though I'm pretty sure I've cut frags off the side or base and they were still able to grow out without issue. (I don't have the "tyree" toadstool, My exp is referring to a couple of similar sarcophytons.)

For a first time, I'd suggest something along the lines of a 1" / 1/2" slice. That way your not taking a whole lot of tissue off the parent, but the frag is still large enough that it will get attached and growing pretty quickly.

When you go to attach, make sure you don't rubber band the frag too tight or it will slice the frag in half and or tear it off of the toothpick. If you just rubber band it to a rock without a toothpick and it's a little too tight, you usually end up with a double header frag (kind of cool IMO).

If you feel ambitious, you can slice a big chunk off the crown and cut it up into several frags. You can even cut the entire head off and slice it up like a pizza- the original colony will grow a new head. (IIRC check out garf.org for a video or something showing this)

 

[Cardiak]

Let us know if you plan to sale the frags, I'd be interested in getting my hands on one of those.

 

[dz6t]

you can dice it up to many pieces and you will get an army of toad stool. it is one of the easiest coral to frag.

 

[dz6t]

There is a seaier way to "mount" a frag:

stick a plastc tooth pick half way into the chunk (don't push it through).
Now you get a "corn dog" that you can stick on the rock.

 

[focus]

And just to be clear, there is no need to have any of the base on the frag. Any side piece will work?

Will the TS regrow the fragged section or will it grow irregular now?

Eventually once they attach I'll be selling them need the space it's getting to crowded.

 

[JohnK]

Yea, snip a peice off from whereever it is convient.

 

[Moe_K]

Yea, snip a peice off from whereever it is convient.

And yes, the mother colony will grow back to its normal shape.

 

[Greg Hiller]

If you need more of a step by step, the following article and techniques work for toadstool leathers, as well as many other species.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/fotm/index.php