How do you remove a colt coral?

Jakaru · 10/11/2006, 10:28 AM

I was wondering what is the best way to remove a colt coral without harming it? I was going to trade a piece but both of mine seem to have actually attatched themselves quickly. Can I just cut the stalk off at the bottom near the rock or do I need to do something else in order to preserve it?

jeffltodd · 10/11/2006, 11:05 AM

I am not certain of your description exactly how it is attached, but I had one a few years ago. It came attached to a piece of rock, that I placed at the bottom of my tank. Soon it grew all the way up to near the top of the water line.

I decided to remove it, but found it had also attached a main stalk to a large piece of LR at the base of my aquascape. Of course I didn't want to remove this, so I simply took a steak knife (ok I didn't know any better) and cut it from the LR and removed it.

I sold it back to LFS for what I had purchased it for. Of course they fragged it all over the place and I used to kick myself everytime I went in there to see 5-6 pieces of my colt selling for what I got for it. Oh well.

About a month later - I noticed that the LR that I cut the colt from in my tank started sprouting a new colt... this from just a little bit of flesh left behind. These are VERY hearty corals indeed!

Good luck!

BUT to add my 2-cents - I would not simply cut the main stalk off. Mine slimed pretty bad by just cutting a small piece out of it. I can't imagine what it would do if you cut it down like a tree.

Travis L. Stevens · 10/11/2006, 11:09 AM

Yes, you can cut the stalk off at the base. Of course, it would have to reattach to something else later. But that works.

Jakaru · 10/11/2006, 11:18 AM

It's a small frag about an inch or so and no bigger. I'm not worried about the slime. I didn't think it would actually attatch so quickly because I heard all the stories about how slimy they are. Mine seem to have done very well.

Thanks for the help.

kass03 · 10/11/2006, 11:37 AM

You can also just cut/shave/grind the rock off where it's attached.
Then it will have a small piece of rock attached already. You can also then glue it to another rock if you want.

kass

Jakaru · 10/11/2006, 11:44 AM

I actually poked the base a little bit and it let go of the rock. Don't know why I didn't think of it sooner heh. No cutting.

10/11/2006, 10:28 AM	#1
Jakaru Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 540	How do you remove a colt coral? I was wondering what is the best way to remove a colt coral without harming it? I was going to trade a piece but both of mine seem to have actually attatched themselves quickly. Can I just cut the stalk off at the bottom near the rock or do I need to do something else in order to preserve it? __________________ I choose to fail to fail. Ehiem 2217, powerhead, 10lbs lr, skimmer coming Current Tank Info: 60 gal FOWLR. 7 turbo snails, 2 siscor tail goby's,

10/11/2006, 11:05 AM	#2
jeffltodd Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 290	I am not certain of your description exactly how it is attached, but I had one a few years ago. It came attached to a piece of rock, that I placed at the bottom of my tank. Soon it grew all the way up to near the top of the water line. I decided to remove it, but found it had also attached a main stalk to a large piece of LR at the base of my aquascape. Of course I didn't want to remove this, so I simply took a steak knife (ok I didn't know any better) and cut it from the LR and removed it. I sold it back to LFS for what I had purchased it for. Of course they fragged it all over the place and I used to kick myself everytime I went in there to see 5-6 pieces of my colt selling for what I got for it. Oh well. About a month later - I noticed that the LR that I cut the colt from in my tank started sprouting a new colt... this from just a little bit of flesh left behind. These are VERY hearty corals indeed! Good luck! BUT to add my 2-cents - I would not simply cut the main stalk off. Mine slimed pretty bad by just cutting a small piece out of it. I can't imagine what it would do if you cut it down like a tree. __________________ Four perfect killers. One perfect crime. Now all they have to fear is each other. Current Tank Info: All-Glass 72g bow-front, Rio 2500 return; SeaClone 100 in sump; Jebao WP25 wave maker; Reef Breeders Photon48

10/11/2006, 11:09 AM	#3
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Yes, you can cut the stalk off at the base. Of course, it would have to reattach to something else later. But that works. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

10/11/2006, 11:18 AM	#4
Jakaru Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 540	It's a small frag about an inch or so and no bigger. I'm not worried about the slime. I didn't think it would actually attatch so quickly because I heard all the stories about how slimy they are. Mine seem to have done very well. Thanks for the help. __________________ I choose to fail to fail. Ehiem 2217, powerhead, 10lbs lr, skimmer coming Current Tank Info: 60 gal FOWLR. 7 turbo snails, 2 siscor tail goby's,

10/11/2006, 11:44 AM	#6
Jakaru Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 540	I actually poked the base a little bit and it let go of the rock. Don't know why I didn't think of it sooner heh. No cutting. __________________ I choose to fail to fail. Ehiem 2217, powerhead, 10lbs lr, skimmer coming Current Tank Info: 60 gal FOWLR. 7 turbo snails, 2 siscor tail goby's,

10/11/2006, 11:37 AM	#5
kass03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kaukauna, Wi Posts: 2,937	You can also just cut/shave/grind the rock off where it's attached. Then it will have a small piece of rock attached already. You can also then glue it to another rock if you want. kass