zoa fragging ??

[v8fla]

Could someone give me some tips on fragging zoa's... i've never done it and I don't want to kill them.:doh:

 

[demifelix]

cut the entire rock they are on, don't cut the zoas

 

[jef4y]

Don't use your teeth...

First, do understand that zoanthids contain an extremely deadly toxin (as in deadly to you and most any other living thing around your size or smaller).

If you can use bone cutters or something of the like, it's easiest to nip off some of the rock that they're on and then glue that onto a frag plug. Depending on the size of the colony, you can nip off a bit and then gently pull the mat up and get whatever you want off to frag.

However, I'm no expert and there are some here who are VERY familiar with zoanthid fragging (cough - MikeW - cough) and perhaps they will comment.

 

[thanh386]

Get a hatchet or a exacto blade whichever ur comfortable with. U might have to kill a few before u learn ur method. I am not as careful as most think and I don't have lost much if ever.

 

[johniii]

A hatchet. Lolololol

 

[v8fla]

Hatchet, don't tempt me..LOL I don't want to destroy the rock they are on, as it is front and center. I've read about taking off the "top layer"of rock any ideas on how to do that(bone cutters)?

Thanks for the toxin warning..

 

[flake]

Depending on the size of the colony, sometimes you can just peel up the mat and cut off a chunk pretty easily.

 

[ripped tide]

If you are going for single heads, Atlanta Aquarium sells little scalpels that are rounded on the end which makes it easy to cut on an uneven surface. I cut around the zoa, and then very carefully cut/scrape between the zoa and plug/rock so that it doesn't damage the coral and just separates it from the rock.