Space Dr in the House?

Mono · Mar 14, 2021

I have a small Space Invader Pectinia.

It got it hit by a falling rock from above. (I think it was dislodged by an emerald crab...)

I didn't notice it right away because the break didn't pierce the tissue but a branch was broken.

Should I just leave it alone since the tissue hasn't been pierced?

Or, should I go ahead and finish the job and frag the broken branch.

I'm sort of nervous cutting the tissue since it would include an eye and I've never fragged a pectinia before.

Any advice?

725196 · Mar 15, 2021

I have a space invader but have yet to frag it. I have watched some videos on fragging this type of coral. I tell you that to say this, I am not an expert on this topic, but I see no one else has answered you.

My thought is if it is still intact and upright, leave it alone unless you are confident you can make a clean cut. If it is loose and flopping in the current or just laying on its side the I think you should probably go ahead and frag it before it becomes necrotic. Btw a pic would be helpful.

That’s my .02

Mono · Mar 16, 2021

Hey, thanks for chiming in. Yeah, it's only one branch that's broken but the funny thing is the break didn't pierce the tissue. I wonder if it would fuse back onto the main skeleton. I doubt it but who knows?

You made a good point to check for and keep an eye on tissue necrosis. It doesn't look like it yet but you know how it is, IF you start staring at a piece and wondering if the tissue is dying, you start seeing necrotic spots everywhere.

If I were to cut the broken branch free it does look like I would have to take an eye and the resulting frag would be blind.

I didn't even think of watching a YouTube video on fragging pectinia, Duh! I'll definitely do that. After all, that's how I learned how to build my steam powered rocket, Fourth of July we're going to the moon!