Beginner's Guide to Coral Fragging | Fragging Steps and Precautions

What is Coral Fragging? Understanding the Basics of Fragging

Fragging (frag making) is a technique of cutting corals into small pieces to divide them into stocks and increase new individuals. Derived from the English word "fragging" (fragmenting), it is routinely performed by coral enthusiasts and breeders worldwide.

This technique has two major purposes. One is to propagate your favorite corals within your own tank to enrich your collection. The other is that by exchanging and selling the increased frags with other aquarists, we can reduce the demand for wild corals harvested from the ocean and contribute to natural environmental conservation.

Soft corals such as star polyps and mushroom corals, as well as LPS like flower pot corals and flowing brain corals, can be successfully fragged if you master the technique. Corals have high regenerative ability, and if done correctly, both the parent colony and frags will grow healthily. Even beginners can succeed with careful effort, but neglecting tool preparation and sanitation can allow bacteria to enter the cut surface, weakening the coral. First, let's master the basics.

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Tools and Preparation Required for Fragging

Before starting fragging, prepare the following tools. Tool quality directly impacts success rate.

Cutting and Fixing Tools

• Bone cutters (bone scissors): Used for cutting corals with hard calcareous skeletons such as SPS and LPS. Choosing one with sharp blades allows for instantaneous cutting, minimizing stress to the coral.
• Razor blade or scalpel: Ideal for cutting flexible tissues like soft corals. Using a fresh blade keeps the cut surface clean.
• Frag plug: A base for fixing cut corals. Ceramic is most common, offering easy adhesion and later integration into rock formations.
• Frag rack: A tray for stable holding of frags in the tank. Essential as direct placement on sand risks infection.

Adhesive and Disinfection Items