Coral Prop

WhoDey · 02-14-2007, 11:55 PM

Hello everyone,

I need some opinions...

I've got a pulsing xenia with button polyps attached to it's base. My Xenia is in the process of splitting and the button polyps are right in the middle of the split. If I time it right, I think I can seperate the two different corals. My goal is to get the Xenia spreading on one rock and the button polyps on another. This way I can sell my spits to the LFS for some other entertaining corals

. The only part I don't have in my plan figured out is how I'm going to attach the button polyps to the other rock. Right now the Xenia's two sides have firm grips on the rock and are pulling apart from each other. I had used a rubber band to attch the xenia, but now that option won't be available for the polyps cuz the rock I want to put them on is too big. So how do I attach the polyps?? Glue?? Please let me know if you have attached a small colony of polyps before (6 to be exact) or if you have any ideas. Also if you have any extra tips I should know when I take the knife to the corals... Thanks guys!

Chitown1 · 02-15-2007, 07:10 AM

I have used gel super glue in the past and it worked well for polyps, gorgonias and mushrooms. I am no expert at propagation though and someone may know something better.

rayjay · 02-15-2007, 04:14 PM

Sometimes they shed the super glue so hobbyists have used bridal viel matterial but I take cheese cloth and separate the layers so I have only one layer and use that. They usually attach at least partially within about 10 days, but I've had some take 3 to 4 weeks. Maybe they like some rock better than others and attatch to them faster, I just don't know.
A couple dots of super glue GEL should hold the material in place over the polyps temporarily, and after you pull the cloth off, any glue left will encrust with coraline.