How best to frag an acan?

[class clown]

I've fragged almost everything, but I haven't fragged an acan yet. Any suggestions? tips? tricks for these guys?

If you cut a single acan polyp in half, is it like a mushroom or a anemone and both halves survive or would they more likely perish?

How would you do a rock with 20 plus heads covering it?

I appreciate any advice or words of caution you have to offer.

Ben

 

[tamarindthai]

if you sucess frag acan,,i love to get a piece from you

 

[class clown]

Well, I don't have one yet.. I've always admired their beauty and the variety of colors that acans come in though.. Same thing with blastos too..

However, I do have a freind, Robert, who has a couple and is willing to do some trading with me, but we just coudn't figure out how to frag it. I was over at his house tonight and we tried to pry a couple polyps off of the rock with a screwdriver, but didn't have much success - we just ended up cracking the rock in half, but got no polyps off.

If i can figure out how to frag it, and it grows in my tank, I'll be happy to share with ya Dang.. and by "share", I mean trade of course

Maybe there is someone out there that has done these before and can share some step by step procedures, or better yet, some photos.

 

[thekingfish]

The best thing to do to get a nice clean cut is to dremel a line on the underside where you want the break to happen. Once the score is deep enough, you could then use the screwdriver or some sharp plyers to finish the break.
You could just use a screwdriver and hammer to frag the acan but you'd end up with lots of half ployps. Most would survive though.
I don't think you can pry polyps off of the rock, you just have to frag the rock itself.

 

[class clown]

awesome, thanks for the reply.. and for the dremel.. what's a good bit to use. I know they have like a drill bit that I've used to cut drywall before.. is there like a special bit that works the best to grove the rock in your experience?

 

[thekingfish]

there is wheel diamond saw bit that works the best.
The link shows what it looks like but I'm not sure it is the exact one you need.
http://www.amazon.com/Dremel-545D-545-Diamond-Wheel/dp/B00004UDI9

 

[class clown]

Hopefully this isn't a silly question, but does an acan have to have a rock to grow over or can you grow single polyps like on the sand or somethign?

 

[thekingfish]

I think it will grow fastest if it has a flat rock to encrust over.
Placing it on sand will stunt its grow I believe.

 

[twilliard]

True on that. IMO acans are tricky on growing. I place rocks around my colony. The rocks I use are flat on top and fit tight against the colony. SLOWLY they will grow onto it.
Trick 2-
You can also take the frag. Cut it as shallow and flat as possible and glue it to a flat host rock. This too over time will grow onto it.

To frag it is like kingfish said. Cut it with a dremel. As long as you have part of the mouth it should make it on any half head. You can not pry off a head. When one doesnt make it you will notice why.
Just remember they are SLOW growers. I bought a 10 head frag about 2 years ago and it is about 50 heads now. So dont be suprised if nothing happens for a while.

Hope that helped
Todd

 

[Murfman]

instead of usings pliers or a screw driver, if you take a sharp chisel and put it right on the soft tissue, above where you drilled your groove, you can make a nice clean cut.

 

[Elmo18]

instead of usings pliers or a screw driver, if you take a sharp chisel and put it right on the soft tissue, above where you drilled your groove, you can make a nice clean cut.

This is the easiest way. Do it over a dry towel, etc.

Best,
Ilham

 

[class clown]

Nice - thanks all!!!!!!