First Coral - Need Help

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LarryS

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Jan 31, 2004
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Sacramento, CA
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Hey all:

I just got a quarter sized frag of a green Ricordea and same size of a Red Ricordia - One is attached to a very small piece of live rock rubble, other unattached. I have placed them in a separate small plastic container with holes to allow water entry, and lined the bottom with small live rock rubble. I am told they should attach to some rubble within approx 1 week. My current tank inhabitants are a Condylactis anemone, 2 firefish, 1 Royal Gramma, 1 peppermint shrimp, 3 Emerald crabs, and numerous blue legged hermit crabs and Florida turbo snails. I have 3 questions:

1. When I placed the ricordea on my live rock initially (before isolating in the plastic container) one of the Emerald crabs started to claw away at it, and it seems, would have eaten it for sure. Is this a typical concern - crabs eating ricordeas? Is removing all crabs to another tank I have with only a Damsel in it the only safe way to ensure the ricordeas will not be eaten?

2. I assume its best not to take the ricordea out of the water. Then how do I glue the piece of rublle its attached to, to the larger piece of live rock? (I have an aquarium putty product called Holdfast - can get some other glue - I hear crazy glue gel is recommended) Is there a glue that works under water?? Is it OK to remove the Ricordea for 4 minutes to glue the rubble to another piece of rock?

3. I am told that you have to vary the height of the ricordea in the tank, experimenting to find the distance from the lighting that best suits it (I have 2 96 watt PC). But when I initially tried to just rest the one ricordea with small piece of rubble attached on top of some of my liverock, the current swept it off and it was floating in the tank. So, it seems I will have to glue the small piece of rubble to a larger rock. Is that right? And if I do that, then how do you then move it to find the right light intensity?

Sorry for the length of this message, but I am completely confused and could appreciate any help.
 
It's ok to take them out of the water to glue to a piece of rock rubble. Don't use too big a piece of rock as it would limit your flexibility later when placing them.
Super glue gel works best- that epoxy is great for molding things into place but isn't sticky in the usual sense at all.

I dry the rock, apply glue gel, take out the ricordia and dab a small area dry quickly, apply a dab of glue to the ric then put it on the gluey rock.
That's it. Just prepare first and move gently yet swiftly.

Start with them about midway down and if they look peaked after a week or two raise them up.

It's normal for inverts to pick at them looking for food, but not to actually consume them- course there are exceptions to everything in this hobby!.
 
Toni
Thanks for the reply. I just want to be clear cause I've heard of gluing corals alot. You actually apply the super glue gel DIRECTLY to the tissue of the ricordia?? And if so, can you apply glue directly to the tissue of any coral, softies, mushrooms, anemones? No harm to the tissue?
 
Super glue gel works very well and is non-toxic. While it's curing, dip the coral and rock in saltwater, because it gives off heat.

It won't hurt any coral that I know of. Doesn't work well with slimy corals like xenia, where a rubber band or mesh will work better. Expoxy putty is better for stony corals, at least in my hands.
 
Thanks Dave. Its still incredible to me to apply glue directly to the soft tissue of the animal, but I guess thats what reef aquarists do. I picked up some super glue gel and will glue away.
 
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