Healing SPS

[Gilbert]

Recently fragged a couple SPS corals an i was just wondering how long i should let them heal before letting them go?
The sizes range from half an inch to 2 inches

[ErikH]

Man, I just grab 'em, snap 'em off, glue 'em and send 'em.

Some people like to wait until they are encrusted. That is the preferred method.

[Mr Cob]

I personally...having traded and bought a lot of frags have found that all corals of any type should have a good week to heal and re-establish themselves before being moved to a new tank. This insures that the coral has time to get past the "cut". At a minimum the coral should not be moved until you can verify that it's open and looking healthy. If it's SPS then the polyps should be out.

When I get fresh cuts from people I find that maybe 25% of them don't make it. Even higher mortality if the fresh cuts are under 2 inches. I also dip so that may cause even more stress on a fresh cut. Plus the handling...there is no where to touch but the coral.

[Gilbert]

Ok, well the frags are cut and mounted on rubble.
All the polyps where fully extended mins after they went back in the water, but i guess ill let them heal for a week or so.

[hobogato]

that is certainly the safer way to do it gilbert

[Gilbert]

Just making sure, that way people cant say i burned them or screwed them over... Thats the reason on my last thread i posted the warning.

[Mr Cob]

I think people appreciate the upfront honesty. Let them decide what they want. Thanks for doing that.

[Bill S]

With 1/2" frags, fresh cut, transported and dipped, the mortality rate is just too high.

Personally, I prefer getting fresh cut frags (no place for pests to hide), but they really need to be an inch or more.

[Mr Cob]

Good point Bill on the pests. I never thought of it in that way.