Frag/Cutting Ricordea

[tippMANn98]

Ok, here is the storySEE PIC BELOW) I am going on vacation to NC on saturday(7/21) my orange and green ricordea is turning into 3, splitting 2 ways. My problem is, im probably not going to be here when it completely seperates, I.E.-I dont want them just to end up anywere(like the back of the tank!!!), I want them to colonize the rock that I have the original on....Should I just let them go, and hope they attach on their "host" rock? or should I cut them(like I have been reading about)? What would you guys do? They are very pretty, you cant really tell in the pic, The outer edges are green with a ring of orange, then green again, and an orange mouth....AHHHHHH I dont want something bad to happen!!! I'll be back on the following saturday(7/28) THere will be somebody to come over to feed the cats, and I have a list for her to "Observe" different things in the tank, cuz I wont be able to(<------O.C.D.)

PLEASE HELP, If im gonna do something with it, its gonna be today or tommorrow!!

anything is appreciated!

[Woodstock]

My ricordia always split and remain on the same rock. I have only known mushrooms to 'jump' off a rock and relocate.

[Cassette87]

are the "soon to be" frags floating free? or are they already partially attached to the rock? If they're at all attached, I would say you have nothing to worry about!

[tippMANn98]

Not attached to the rock, just the Main Ric, the others are hanging on by slivers

[Cassette87]

Hmm, is the rock easily removable from the tank? if it is, i'd suggest a dab of superglue on the underside of each new ric, just to keep it in place. otherwise when it doesn separate, it'll likely float about...

[tippMANn98]

yes, by lucky chance the rock is one of 2 that arent secured down, so that should be enought just to hold them, remember there are 2 of them i dont want to glue one the wrong way or vise versa, I will try it though, have you done it before? or anybody?

[Cassette87]

I've glued zoanthids, just make sure your putting the glue on the rock, then make sure you just barley drop the bottom of the ric onto the glue, give it a sec, and put it back in. . you should be fine!

[goldenmean]

Ive never had luck glueing shrooms/rics.
They always slime and off the glue they are.

I wouldn't want to cut them and then leave for a week
just in case there is problems.

You could put a piece of veil (wedding veil) over all of them.
Not too tight.
That would prevent them from floating around the tank

[bluespotjawfish]

I would use netting over the rock. If you use glue you could damage it, or it may decide it doesn't like the glue and slime away from it.

[lcstorc]

I'll third that suggestion. Some kind of netting over all three rics. You can secure it under the rock with a rubberband or zip tie. Put it on loosely. You are just trying to prevent them flying away not their natural movement. Thin wider netting would be better but wedding veil should work just fine as well.

[tippMANn98]

The netting sounds like a winning idea...I was a little weary about the super glue...at least it will keep them safe until I get back home.....thanks all!!

[bluespotjawfish]

I have some 3/8 inch pond netting that I use. Same stuff I made my screen lid out of for my jumpers.

[lcstorc]

I used some of it for my recent fragging session. Worked great on all the shrooms. I wanted something less restrictive than the wedding veil so anything big enough to not escape through the holes got the pond netting instead,