Zoa Fragging

[thirty5]

I read up on the whole thread here about fragging. Very informative. I understand how to frag a Zoa. But here is my question. I have some that i want to frag. But the stalk on the polyp is very long like over an inch. Can that be cut down closer to the polyp, and then attach to base? It will look funny just to have these really long zoas on a base...

Anthony

 

[KathyC]

No you can't, that would kill them.
They get long when stretching toward the light. Move them closer to your lighting and they will probably get shorter.
There are a few varieties that have a longer stalk, but those are usually palys, not zoas.

 

[yeahcheetah]

If you cut through that part, toxin will come out, which means they are injuried.

 

[drperetz]

If you cut through that part, toxin will come out, which means they are injuried.

RIF
I dont think ur answer is adiquite for this post. Obviously the corals have toxins... They also release toxins even when not injured......

 

[drperetz]

...

post a pic of the coral. It would help greatly.:smoker:

 

[Deanos]

post a pic of the coral. It would help greatly.:smoker:

Help what greatly? Cutting the stalk of a zoanthid will kill the coral.

 

[drperetz]

...

Dean I have a few zoas that I have cut in the mid base and glued them on a frag... Most revived....

My Mohawks were 1 of them.. They have very long body...

 

[Deanos]

Dean I have a few zoas that I have cut in the mid base and glued them on a frag... Most revived....

:wow: You should become a real doctor :tired:

 

[drperetz]

...

Ok Dean. I will take that into consideration....:scratchch

 

[yeahcheetah]

RIF
I dont think ur answer is adiquite for this post. Obviously the corals have toxins... They also release toxins even when not injured......

I don't think so, from what I learned, although the polyps are linked by soft tissue at the base, they are independant clones and there is no "internal organ" in that part. So cutting through the base does not cause significant stress to them. In this case, chance is the toxin will not be released and people can frag it with bare hands.

 

[drperetz]

...

what does toxicity have to do with cutting the polyp and gluing by its base...

As a precausion, u should always be careful working with zoas (wear gloves and eye wear)....

 

[NYreefNoob]

chance is the toxin will not be released and people can frag it with bare hands. ? YOU REALLY AND ESPECIALLY WITH ZOA'S SHOULD NOT BE DOING ANYTHING BARE HANDED. ZOA'S CONTAIN A TOXIN STRONG ENOUGH TO KILL. WHY TAKE THE CHANCE. AS STATED IT THEY ARE ZOA'S AND NOT PALY'S MOVE THEM CLOSER TO THE LIGHT AND THEY WILL RE-TRAC SOME WHAT. ATLEAST MINE DID. AND THIRTY ALL FRAGS LOOK FUNNY TILL THEY GROW OUT

 

[yeahcheetah]

Like I said in the first post, toxin releasing means significant injury to the coral. So it is a sign of bad/wrong cutting. As far as I understand, palytoxin are passively released when zoa is injuried (i.e. preyed upon) to ward off further injury, they are not released naturally into the water.

I do know someone who frags zoa w/o protection. It is dangerous but he never had any problem with it. I think it is experience. As to me, I always wear gloves. I was only stating what I know. Please don't take it as a suggestive coax. :catsmiley

 

[drperetz]

Like I said in the first post, toxin releasing means significant injury to the coral. So it is a sign of bad/wrong cutting. As far as I understand, palytoxin are passively released when zoa is injuried (i.e. preyed upon) to ward off further injury, they are not released naturally into the water.

I do know someone who frags zoa w/o protection. It is dangerous but he never had any problem with it. I think it is experience. As to me, I always wear gloves. I was only stating what I know. Please don't take it as a suggestive coax. :catsmiley

I'll tell u this much, ITS NOT A PLESENT EXPERIENCE GETTING POISONED BY ANY OF THESE CORALS>>>Trust me, I KNOW ABOUT IT!!!.

U can be the smartest reefer on the block but fraging without any protection is just unsafe practice....