Coral Propagation (Xenia)
Ok Students, Welcome To Frag School!
Todays lesson is the propagation of the Xenia coral.
The required materials for this procedure include:
a. Xenia Coral XD
b. 1 pair of scissors or a razor
c. A clean plastic bowl or square holding dish
d. 1 pair of latex gloves
e. 1 rubberband or tooth pick
f. 1 small rock/rubble
Now for the procedure of propagating the Xenia coral. 1. Choose the coral you would like to frag.
2. Choose the branch to be propagated.
3. Take a plastic container and place it on a table near the aquarium.
4. Fill the plastic container with aquarium water.
5. Place a small piece of live rock from the aquarium into the plastic container.
6. Place a rubber band and toothpick next to the container.
7. Cut the branch of coral a maximum of 90% of the way through the branch and tear the final 10% off by hand. The xenia coral has been known to react well to tearing. This actually causes growth to happen faster. If the coral that you wish to frag is able to be moved and is not of massive size, you may want to do the fragging in the plastic bowl to reduce the chances of slime getting in the tank
.
8. Place the coral fragment on the live rock in the plastic container after it is cut, then place the mother colony coral in the tank (if you took it out to frag)
9. Take the rubber band and wrap it around the coral fragment and rock.
10. If the coral fragment is too small, and it slips underneath the rubber band, use the toothpick to secure it in place.
11. Make sure the coral fragment is secure, and then place it back into the aquarium.
12. Move the fragment to the lower level of the aquarium and turn the light off.
13. After 3 days (or when the coral looks healthy, like the mother colony) the coral can be moved to its desired position in the tank.
Good job class. You were all wonderful and now you can make me proud and frag some xenia!
Here is a good example of a perfect end result!
