Acan growth question

[Txbassking]

I got a couple acan frags from someone a few months backthat the heads were recessed and you could see just a little color on them andhad dead skeleton around the heads. The frags have not grown at all but arestarting to puff back up again. My question is should I cut off the entire deadskeleton on the frag as close to the heads as possible to help it grow fasteror leave it like it is?

 

[logansreef]

i would just leave it. When they grow they will just grow over the old skelton. If you dont like the way it looks you could trim away the skelton and no harm would be done to the acans as long as you dont hit the flesh

 

[skinz78]

+1, I'd leave it.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

+1 on leaving it. I had the same thing happen and the acan is now growing over the skeleton.

 

[ritter6788]

I like to remove the rough skeleton on LPS to make it easier for them to regrow over the dead skeleton. They seem to recover quicker if they have a smooth surface to grow on. I use a pair of bone cutter and scrape the skeleton down until it's smoother. Some LPS have a hard time growing over their own rough skeletons. Just make sure not to cut into the flesh.

Favia I did the same thing to,

 

[skinz78]

Ahh good idea Gabriel, I'll have to try it on a few I have.

 

[Txbassking]

Thanks. I think that is what I will do.

 

[mc-cro]

I second what Garbriel suggested. I have done that to a couple of Lobo's, a fungia, a few favias.

 

[Txbassking]

Thanks again

 

[-Logzor]

The problem is that algae may grow on the dead skeleton and reduce the ability of the acan to grow back. I agree with scraping it down, this will reduce the crevices that algae likes to grow into.