New SPS Frag, is this a concern?

[kesuk]

Hi All,

Newbie question, I ordered some frags online and for the most part everything appears healthy. My birdsnest frag extended right away and seems relatively happy but the base of the coral appears dead. This is the first time I've done SPS frags so not sure if this is normal from the cutting or if it's in trouble.

Appreciate any advise!

 

[ajjw0828]

Yup, the base is dead. I would cut it off, making the cut just into a healthy are of the frag so none of the dead part is left on it. Then super glue and attach to new plug or rock.

 

[kesuk]

Thanks will try cutting it. For my own understanding, would leaving the dead area hurt the rest of the coral or is it just for aesthetics to remove it?

 

[ajjw0828]

Thanks will try cutting it. For my own understanding, would leaving the dead area hurt the rest of the coral or is it just for aesthetics to remove it?

Cutting the base off is just a precaution in case it’s slow or rapid tissue necrosis. If it isn’t spreading you don’t have to cut it off. In my experience you’ll have more success cutting it and re gluing making sure to glue over the cut surface well. I feel like it will encrust better this way. I’ve had corals like this that I’ve left and they never seem to encrust well over the dead parts in my experience.

 

[BamboozleBean]

I would give it some time, if it spreads upwards I would cut it.
A lot of times parts of SPS like the bottom will die off if they don’t get a lot of light.

 

[kesuk]

Thanks for the replies, I'll give it a day or so to see if it progresses at all. May look into cutting it anyways to help the encrusting as mentioned.