Separating Zoanthids

[justin55340]

I bought a rock a couple of months ago that had a bunch of bam bam zoanthids on it and now it has spread in every direction onto the bigger rock below it. I am wondering if I would be fine cutting it loose and moving it a little further over in my tank to help them spread further. If I can do that could you provide me with instructions (in detail, I'm cautious about handling them) on how to do it or give me the name of the technique so I can research it further? I'll post a picture tomorrow when the lights come on if it is needed.
Thanks

 

[king_neptune]

I tried:how to frag zoanthids

 

[justin55340]

I wasn't really looking to frag them, I have read about it. I guess a good way to put the question would be: Is it ok for me to cut the webbing of the zoa's that is attaching the smaller rock to the larger rock? I won't hurt the newly grown polyps will I? If so, do i just take them out of the water and cut them with knife? It doesn't matter that they are out of the water? Sorry if I'm being overly cautious

 

[king_neptune]

Its fine to cut the webing. Just dont cut the body.Use arazor or dremmel.

 

[jstdv8]

zoas are really resilient, you can do just about anything to them you like and they will grow back.
makes fragging them easier.
do wear gloves and eye protection as they do have poisons in them that han cause injury. Or so I've heard.

 

[jaxfishgirl]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/381920/separating-zoanthids#post_3330437
zoas are really resilient, you can do just about anything to them you like and they will grow back.
makes fragging them easier.
do wear gloves and eye protection as they do have poisons in them that han cause injury. Or so I've heard.
+1, its called Palytoxin and it can kill you or paralyze you.
other symptoms: convulsions, severe pain, rapid heart rate, muscle spasms, chest pain, breathing problems. So be careful =)

 

[rastaangel]

I do that quite frequently with a few of my zoo, zoa and paly frags. As soon as they grow over the frag disk a few polyps I cut the webbing between the polyps and move the disk over a few inches. Just my way of trying to cover more ground faster with my zoos by having them growing in a few places at once... So far its worked very well

 

[d-man]

I would cut them in a way that leaves a head on the other rock, unless you don't want them to spread that is. Sounds to me like a great time to make your first frag

 

[jstdv8]

I did my first piece of real zoa fragging this weekend. I found that if you actually cut into the liverock a little bit and leave the base of the zoas intact you can get several off at a time this way and very easy to glue as well.
also fragged some GSP (easy as it gets, cut and paste)
xenia, didn't take to the super glue, had to rubberband it.
leather (also very easy)