Combining multiple frags from a colony

[takoarm8]

Novice question. If I bought multiple frags from someone and mounted them relatively close with hopes of them turning into the same colony is that a thing?

 

[bushdoc]

In a biological sense it will not be a colony as it is unlikely that frags will fuse together and form one organism, but you will definitely have a "Plymouth Colony" or your own coral garden.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

It’s definitely “a thing”! A few years back, I had a 2” monticap that broke in half as I was separating it from a frag plug. I mounted them and inch or so from each other. Weeks later when they touched, they obviously knew each other and !seamlessly! fused together.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

It’s definitely “a thing”! A few years back, I had a 2” monticap that that broke in half as I was separating it from a frag plug. I mounted them and inch or so from each other. Weeks later when they touched, they obviously knew each other and !seamlessly! fused together.

Here are a progression of photos.

 

[acesfull44]

I just purchased multiple frags of JF Fox Flame and PC Rainbow from the CC Live Sale and I will be doing this very thing with them. I have been told by multiple people here who are incredibly successful at growing/keeping SPS that this is very doable and in fact they have done this multiple times.

 

[takoarm8]

 

[takoarm8]

Gonna do those two

 

[takoarm8]

 

[takoarm8]

And these 3 together

 

[Gatorpa]

I just purchased multiple frags of JF Fox Flame and PC Rainbow from the CC Live Sale and I will be doing this very thing with them. I have been told by multiple people here who are incredibly successful at growing/keeping SPS that this is very doable and in fact they have done this multiple times.

I’ve done it many times.
Say your fragging a piece and in the process a small tip breaks off, glue the main piece down and then glue the smaller one 1-2 mm away and it with absolutely grow and speed the process of encrusting the plug.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Novice question. If I bought multiple frags from someone and mounted them relatively close with hopes of them turning into the same colony is that a thing?

They will coexist but not merge together or graft if that was your hopes. Assure none are capable of stinging their neighbors

 

[Glenner’sreef]

They will coexist but not merge together or graft if that was your hopes. Assure none are capable of stinging their neighbors

I believe if they’re from the same colony they would not sting and possess the ability to merge. No?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I believe if they’re from the same colony they would not sting and possess the ability to merge. No?

They should be fine. While certain coral will encrust with each other some will remain independent. Time will tell how it goes

 

[BranchingHammer]

If the same species/from the same colony, they will definitely fuse together. Here are some Hawkins Echinata frags that fused together after I accidentally shattered the main frag:

7/15/22

12/15/22

 

[Homewrecker]

When a vendor wont sell me a big enough frag I'll buy 2 and put them next to each other. It works great!

 

[OrionN]

Frags from the same colony will merge into each other without any problem.
have you try to mount SPS horizontal? This will result into a much better colony with multiple branches from a wide base. I routinely mount SPS horizontally.
mounting plated corals, I mount them vertically. This result I. Multiple layers of plates and a niche prettier colony, IMO

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Gonna do those two

No

 

[takoarm8]

No

Don’t do the blue tort? Why?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Don’t do the blue tort? Why?

Are they both frags of the same coral? They looked different to me. If they are the same, then mounting them close to each other is fine and depending on their growth pattern, eventually they will fill in the gap. Whether or not they actually connect and grow into a single "colony" will be hit or miss.

The "no" was to say that two different corals won't "turn into the same colony".

 

[takoarm8]

Are they both frags of the same coral? They looked different to me. If they are the same, then mounting them close to each other is fine and depending on their growth pattern, eventually they will fill in the gap. Whether or not they actually connect and grow into a single "colony" will be hit or miss.

The "no" was to say that two different corals won't "turn into the same colony".

Same colony