Fractured base euphyllia

[ErikVR]

Hi all,

I just noticed that one of my new Euphyllia seems to have a fractured base.
It must have been me putting it in the epoxy with my tweezers because I didn't notice it while dipping.

Is this something that will heal up or have I damaged it permanently?
And do you think it will be having issues down the line because of it?

 

[Timfish]

It's something that will happen sooner or later to any colony as they grow. COral tissue that covers it's skeleton protects the skeleton from endoliths that dissolve the skeleton. With many branching corals including euphylia this tissue will recede with growth letting endoliths grow and dissolve the skeleton weakening it. Depending on variables in the system it was grwon in the skeletal density will vary also making one colony' skeleton denser, and stronger, than another's that may be a different genotype with different growth charicteristics or from a different system with different environmental conditions so some may be very fragile and prone to breaking. Also, any branching type euphylia will break apart under it's own wieght if allowed to grow long enough. It's possible but not probable the damage to your skeleton might be enough cause your colony to decline. But I would consider the stress of shipping and being moved and acclimating to another system the bigger threat to your coral and wouldn't worry about the split.