MICHAEL RICE
LPS FRAGGING GUIDE
T
A Dremel, side cutters, hammer, flathead screwdriver, and glue are all that are needed to frag most LPS corals.
he topic of coral fragging is a truly inexhaustible subject with many different techniques and best practices specific to each type of coral. In the last issue of Reef Hobbyist Magazine, I wrote about some of the easiest corals to frag (the soft corals), and now it's time for me to share some of my favorites to frag!
LPS (large-polyp stony) corals are some of the most sought-after corals in the hobby, but at the same time, their slow growth and thick calcified growth forms can make them some of the hardest to frag and regrow successfully. Today, we'll look at branching Euphyllia, which includes Frogspawn, Hammer, and Torch corals, Micromussa lordhowensis (formerly known as Acanthastrea lordhowensis), and Cyphastrea. These are all popular corals that come in many color varieties, making them perfect for the captive propagation enthusiast. The methods outlined here can also be used to cut up a multitude of other corals that have similar growth forms.
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