Assisted budding?

Travis · 12-02-2003, 05:06 PM

I recently posted some growth pics of my branching hammer here.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...=&threadid=490

I would love to have some babies from this fellow, but can't bring myself to frag it as its growth has been so extraordinary (IMO).

However, there are dozens- possibly 100- tiny buds growing off the branches. I have seen these for quite some time, and was always hopeful that they would fall off and attach to the rockwork to form new colonies. However, that hasn't happened, and the buds seem to remain at a very small size because (I'm assuning) they're shielded from light by the full-grown branches and heads.

Anyone have experience with manually removing these buds and transplanting them to rock?

I was considering gently breaking several off to fall onto the rockwork in hopes they would colonize and grow.

So, I'm throwing this one out there to the prop experts- what do you think?

Travis

Curtswearing · 12-02-2003, 05:14 PM

I've never tried it but I bet if you did the cut cleanly you would have a shot.

(I'm also kindof tagging along for the ride).

Woodstock · 12-02-2003, 05:47 PM

I also believe you have had extraodinary growth! Very nice hammerS! My hammer hasn't grown near that much.

I'll watch this thread too....

Cosmic · 12-02-2003, 06:09 PM

I can't say that I have been brave enough to try it yet, but I can offer up some thoughts on the subject.

First, I don't think it's a good idea to snap them off IF the skeleton they are attached to is still a healthy bright white, like near the heads of the coral. I think the "young" are still using the mother colony to survive. This is only MHO tho.

If the skeleton they are attached to looks grey or "old", then chances are that the baby is not still part of the mother colony.

The tissue of euphyllias goes fairly deep into the recesses of the skeleton, and in the first example, it's possible that the young's tissue is still attached to the main growing head. Again, this isn't a fact, but a well-earned hunch.

Finally, I wouldn't frag it if ANY tissue still connects it to the main head, on the Outside, I.E. the tissue covering the skeleton. Any time you have to tear tissue, you leave that coral open to infection and possible mortality. Good news is that branching hammers will each be affected individually instead of as a colony, meaning only immediate polyps will be affected.

Let us know if you DO try it out!
Cos

Travis · 12-02-2003, 06:46 PM

Thanks for the info Cos.

I can definitely tell you that many of the buds are as far as 2" away from the nearest head. What concerns me is the fact that the tissue may run deeper than I thought. So if I "snap off" a bud, I could kill it but it shouldn't affect the rest of the colony- assuming it's one of the ones attached to basically dead skeleton. Correct?

I might just give this a try, just for the heck of it. Now I'm even considering supergluing a few buds onto a piece of rubble. (anybody seen my glasses? LOL) If I snap them off, I think their chances of attaching are pretty slim in my "wild wild west" of a tank.

T

Craig Manoukian · 12-02-2003, 10:18 PM

I would recommend the use of a sharp dremel tool to minimize trauma and tearing if you haven't already considered it. A more surgical procedure if you will.

mredman · 12-03-2003, 01:14 AM

Travis.......I'd be careful.....I heard that fragging hammers is like "budding" heads!!!

Mike

mredman · 12-03-2003, 01:15 AM

Travis, great success story with the hammer coral!

Mike

cheeks69 · 12-03-2003, 01:30 AM

I too have a large hammer and was thinking of somehow fragging it because it's stinging the corals all around it. Let us know how you make out

StoneyReef · 12-03-2003, 01:42 AM

Here I come to save the day?

Travis, my hammers grow extraordinary like yours. Also my frog spawn and torch, just something about my tank, anyhow, in the last year I have had to frag my frog about 10 times. That is frags of big heads.

The little guys can be just broken off and glued to a rock. Otherwise they do stay small from lack of light. Usually it does not take much effort at all to break them off. If it takes more than slight effort, then leave it. I have picked it up and just brushing them have made the lil guys fall off. I have mine drop off on their own quite often to never been seen again, if I do not get them out immediately. Who knows, perhaps I have a secret hammer society cult hiding in my life rock?

Travis · 12-03-2003, 02:23 AM

Awesome stoney reef, thanks!

T

wooddood · 12-03-2003, 06:09 AM

go for it travis.

12-02-2003, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Assisted budding? I recently posted some growth pics of my branching hammer here. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...=&threadid=490 I would love to have some babies from this fellow, but can't bring myself to frag it as its growth has been so extraordinary (IMO). However, there are dozens- possibly 100- tiny buds growing off the branches. I have seen these for quite some time, and was always hopeful that they would fall off and attach to the rockwork to form new colonies. However, that hasn't happened, and the buds seem to remain at a very small size because (I'm assuning) they're shielded from light by the full-grown branches and heads. Anyone have experience with manually removing these buds and transplanting them to rock? I was considering gently breaking several off to fall onto the rockwork in hopes they would colonize and grow. So, I'm throwing this one out there to the prop experts- what do you think? Travis

12-02-2003, 05:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,597 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've never tried it but I bet if you did the cut cleanly you would have a shot. (I'm also kindof tagging along for the ride). __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

12-02-2003, 05:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,502 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I also believe you have had extraodinary growth! Very nice hammerS! My hammer hasn't grown near that much. I'll watch this thread too.... __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12-02-2003, 06:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cosmic Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	I can't say that I have been brave enough to try it yet, but I can offer up some thoughts on the subject. First, I don't think it's a good idea to snap them off IF the skeleton they are attached to is still a healthy bright white, like near the heads of the coral. I think the "young" are still using the mother colony to survive. This is only MHO tho. If the skeleton they are attached to looks grey or "old", then chances are that the baby is not still part of the mother colony. The tissue of euphyllias goes fairly deep into the recesses of the skeleton, and in the first example, it's possible that the young's tissue is still attached to the main growing head. Again, this isn't a fact, but a well-earned hunch. Finally, I wouldn't frag it if ANY tissue still connects it to the main head, on the Outside, I.E. the tissue covering the skeleton. Any time you have to tear tissue, you leave that coral open to infection and possible mortality. Good news is that branching hammers will each be affected individually instead of as a colony, meaning only immediate polyps will be affected. Let us know if you DO try it out! Cos __________________ ReefKeeping FAQ'S

12-02-2003, 06:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Thanks for the info Cos. I can definitely tell you that many of the buds are as far as 2" away from the nearest head. What concerns me is the fact that the tissue may run deeper than I thought. So if I "snap off" a bud, I could kill it but it shouldn't affect the rest of the colony- assuming it's one of the ones attached to basically dead skeleton. Correct? I might just give this a try, just for the heck of it. Now I'm even considering supergluing a few buds onto a piece of rubble. (anybody seen my glasses? LOL) If I snap them off, I think their chances of attaching are pretty slim in my "wild wild west" of a tank. T __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

12-02-2003, 10:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	I would recommend the use of a sharp dremel tool to minimize trauma and tearing if you haven't already considered it. A more surgical procedure if you will. __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

12-03-2003, 01:14 AM	#7 (permalink)
mredman Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 149 View Gallery Karma Komment	Travis.......I'd be careful.....I heard that fragging hammers is like "budding" heads!!! Mike

12-03-2003, 01:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
mredman Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 149 View Gallery Karma Komment	Travis, great success story with the hammer coral! Mike

12-03-2003, 01:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
StoneyReef No Longer a Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 243 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here I come to save the day? Travis, my hammers grow extraordinary like yours. Also my frog spawn and torch, just something about my tank, anyhow, in the last year I have had to frag my frog about 10 times. That is frags of big heads. The little guys can be just broken off and glued to a rock. Otherwise they do stay small from lack of light. Usually it does not take much effort at all to break them off. If it takes more than slight effort, then leave it. I have picked it up and just brushing them have made the lil guys fall off. I have mine drop off on their own quite often to never been seen again, if I do not get them out immediately. Who knows, perhaps I have a secret hammer society cult hiding in my life rock?

12-03-2003, 02:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Awesome stoney reef, thanks! T __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

12-03-2003, 06:09 AM	#12 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	go for it travis. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

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