Trachyphyllia/Reproduction Methods 7/31/12
Dear Crew,
<Bryce>
   Its been a while since I emailed you last. I have since let my tank mature. Its a 55 gal. reef. The inverts it is stocked with include: 1 Trachyphyllia sp, 1 Duncanopsammia axifuga, 1Tubastrea sp, 1 Galaxea sp, 1 Caulastrea sp. I am having overall success with the corals, excluding the Galaxea. The Duncan has gone from 2 heads to 12. The Open Brain has also increased in size. Here is my question: What is the best way to frag the brain? I am sure that sawing it would be a terrible idea, but I don't know how to do it. Should I just let it grow?
<Best to read here and related articles/FAQs found in the header.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fragmethodf.htm
James (Salty Dog)>
Bryce

Open brain...split? 03/02/09 Hello all, I hope all is well with all of you! I have had a red open brain for about two years now. It suffered from tissue recession off and on for a couple of months. No other corals in my tank showed any signs of stress or degradation. I finally stuck the brain into my refugium <Ah, this is often my "last resort" as well... when all else fails, sometimes tossing a dying coral into the refugium can save it. I don't know for sure why this is... but I've saved many corals this way. Perhaps it's the temporary removal from other livestock, lowered light, or greater food supply... who knows? > that is lit only by two 65 watt 6500k CFLs from the local home store (outdoor lighting by "lights of America" replacement bulbs are only $10! Not sure how true the Kelvin rating is. But I have had good results with Chaetomorpha in the fuge. I did have to modify the lighting unit itself to get more efficient light into the water column.). It recovered in about a month. <awesome> I recently moved and in setting up the tank again, placed in back in the main tank. I did place it in the shade of an above rock ledge. <Good idea... for acclimation.> As you can see, it has become two brains in one. <This is quite common when such corals recede... they don't always (or even usually) grow back quite the same way. They often grow back as more than one polyp...> Completely separate animals now. I assume this is not uncommon, but I would like to separate the base so they each can grow into there full glory! What is the easiest/safest way to do this? <Do you have a tile or wet-saw? If so, that's the best/easiest way. Next best way might be with a Dremel saw... least preferred way, hammer and chisel. In any case, I'd wait a few more weeks at least. Let the coral continue to grow/recover for a bit more.> Or is it recommended that I just leave them alone? I am feeding it shrimp and scallops once daily, and it seems I could feed it more! <I would feed it generously for a few more weeks before you frag it. But it's up to you...> Thanks for your help again!! Rob <De nada, Sara M.>

Trachyphyllia Budding 03/24/08 I have a Trachyphyllia that appears to be budding as described in your article here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trachyphlliidae.htm The soon to be daughter colony has a small piece of tissue still connecting it to the main body of the parent colony. The soon to be daughter colony appears to have its own set of feeding tentacles extended at night. My question is this: <cool> 1. Should I cut the very thin piece of tissue connecting the parent and daughter colony? <If you want to, go ahead.> 2. If I separate the two portions, should I mount the resulting frag on a frag plug? <There's no need to necessarily. But if it makes things more convenient for you, there's likely no harm in it.> I've never seen a Trach. mounted in such a fashion but if I don't mount it somehow it will be lost behind my rocks due to the current. <In that case, yes, I'd mount it.> Water Parameters 75 Gallon Ca 415 Alk 10 Salinity 1.025 Lighting - Dual 250 watt HQI Thanks for all you do for this wonderful hobby! God bless, Chris <Best, Sara M.>

Spitting Trachyphyllia - 12/06/05 Our brain coral (Trachyphylliidae) appears to have just spit out some thin red threads about 1/2 inch long. It is near the end daylight period of the tank. The brain coral appears quite healthy and has a reddish-brown outer ring and a bright light-green center area near the mouth. I usually feed it oyster eggs or Mysis shrimp every 2 or 3 days. <<Excellent>> What are the red threads (which are almost like saffron threads)? <<Hmm, I have seen short tentacles on these, but never as fine as you describe. These may possibly be mesenterial filaments...do a keyword search re on our website and beyond... EricR>>

Propagating Trachyphyllia and Indiana Marine Club 7/30/05 questions 7/30/05 Hello!......re my Trachyphyllia.....I really don't think it is going to make it.  Could you point me in the direction where I can find out how I could (if I could) frag the coral to possibly save some of it...if that's possible.    <You can literally cut this coral on a band saw... or better: a wet saw for tile or ceramic. Other tools will work fine of course. You might use a tile cutting bit on a Dremel, e.g.. But the gist of it is saw at least 1/2" into the good tissue (away from the infected part) and make the cut fast and clean. The saved portion does not need to have a mouth on the polyp. But you do need to expose the cut edge to decent water flow for faster healing> Sorry about the ignorant questions. Have you heard anything about "miracle mud"...what are your opinions concerning it. <Compositionally... it can be useful like other terrestrial substrates for plants and algae> Do you know of any marine fish organizations in Indiana.....I would like to get in touch with some people who are connected with the same hobby as myself (that way I don't have to bug the hell out of you guys when I want to talk about fish :) Thanks so much!!!! Codie <I do indeed know of a good Indiana club: http://www.indmas.org/ and the forum they frequent on: www.reeffrontriers.com and a fav shop: www.inlandaqautics.com best regards, Anthony>

Trachyphyllia anomaly Dear Crew <cheers> I have recently discovered what can only be described as a hard calcareous nodule on the base of my Trachyphyllia (please see photo). I have tapped it very gently with some plastic tongs and have got some definite resistance from it. <hmmm... tough to see from the photo, but could simply be a daughter satellite. Many stony corals reproduce by forming a small calcareous nodule that drips free once mature. Rather common with such free-living species as your Trachyphyllia> At first I thought it might be a hungry snail. Can you tell me what it is? Could it be reproducing? It has been in my tank nearly 18 months and has thrived in optimum water with weekly feedings all this time. <excellent to hear... yes, the weekly feedings are very conducive to good health, growth and reproduction> It has only come to my attention because the coral has been deflated for a few days. Something I know they do regularly to get rid of water. Your advice would be helpful. best regards, Jim PS the greenish nodule is in the middle just up from the bottom.  Thanks <I cannot fathom it being a problem. Nothing of concern here if not reproduction (just a sequestered damaged frag of corallum at worst). Anthony> Brain reproduction? Greetings Crew! <Happy Holidays Ray, MacL here with you> Hope you are in a warmer climate than I am right now (10F with wind-chill of -15).  Makes me want to climb into my reef tank where it is nice and warm!  <Its not quite that cold where I am, and Bob is in Hawaii.> OK, done a quick search and can't find the answer to my question.  I have an open brain coral in my reef tank Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia).  Anyway, been in there for about 8 months and has nearly tripled in size, grown 2 new "mouths" and developed several new folds. Lately I have noticed that two folds are growing towards each other so that if they keep going, they will divide the entire coral in two equal parts with several "mouths" on each side.   So my question is:  how do they reproduce?  By fragmentation/division or by sexual reproduction? <It's asexual reproduction, usually by budding just like what you are seeing.> Everything else in the tank is doing great so I am sure it is not an environmental thing. <No its a good thing, you should be proud.> The only oddity is that after a year, my yellow-tailed damsel has chosen a new rock to claim as his own on the opposite side of the tank......and all the other fish inhabitants (mostly my yellow tang and coral beauty) still ignore his little fits to defend his territory (small guy in the tank). Thanks again for all your help in the past! <Ray, congratulations you are obviously doing great.> -Ray Re: Eye Abrasion Mr. Fenner, I didn't intend to write to you so soon. I hope you don't mind my doing so. I moved my injured tang to the QT, and with the help of a friend we administered the first disinfectant treatment. Her eye looks even worse today but my hopes are high. <Mine as well> I would like to ask another question about a totally different subject. I have two open brains in my system. I had to move them out of the way when I netted my tang. To the side of my red open brain I found a cluster of what appears to be tiny baby brains!?! <Yes, possible> I'm not sure if I am right. It looks like brain rubble, but healthy looking and I swear to see a resemblance to my fully formed red brain. If they are in fact baby open brains what in the world to I do for them? Scatter them (genteelly of course) about or leave them be. Or do you think am I looking at something totally different? I would love to hear what you think. I am quite excited about my discovery. :) Carl D. <Leave them where they are for now. Bob Fenner>

Question (Bailing out Trachyphyllia) Ha! I get to ask a question posed me today by a local maintenance professional I couldn't answer. Ever hear of a Trachyphyllia Red Open Brain detaching from the skeleton and living free-floating for 6 mos. ? <Have heard of such a thing... does kind of make sense (like coral polyp bailout period) in the scheme of time/space, saving ones skin... getting "out" in bad situations... hopefully to end up some place more favorable. Bob F> Has been in tank 2 years. Craig

Acropora fragging and aggression - 4/5/04  Hi, what would happen if two of my Acropora corals touched each other? <Sometimes they grow together, other times they kill of the area where they are touching. Do search for SPS aggression on Google. There is much info available on this subject> Also, is there a minimum size an Acropora coral frag has to be? <Not really. I have tried 1/2 inch on up. Sometimes they make it, but there is usually high mortality in very small frags (under an inch)> Thanks, Adam

New Effort by Antoine and Esteban on WWM! http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trachyreproart.htm The version placed and sent to Sue.S was 1.5 line spaced (no other changes). I placed my own PS 6.0 modified copies of your graphics.  Do you boyz want your personal or other e-mail addresses added to the WWM posted article? Bob Fenner

Trachyphyllia art. cvr. ltr./FAMA <wink> Susan Steele Art Editor Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Magazine 144 West Sierra Madre Boulevard Sierra Madre, CA 91024 fax 818-355-0312 4/27/01 Sue,  Please find enclosed an article (electronic and analog) and image scans by friends, associates Steve Pro and Anthony Calfo elucidating and illustrating "Fascinating Reproduction in Open Brain Coral". This piece should open up the eyes of marine reef aquarists; especially those engaged in stony coral propagation… and slow down the hapless aquarists who deem that they've lost such animals that have had their tissue recessed, appear dead. Please do run this piece and Anthony and Steve's accompanying photographs at FAMA's earliest convenience.  Thank you,
Bob Fenner