| Difficulty | Moderate to advanced |
| Time Required | 20–30 minutes |
| Healing Time | 3–6 weeks |
| Best Method | Saw with polyps fully retracted |
| Coral Type | Flowerpot LPS |
Overview
Goniopora (24 tentacles per polyp) and Alveopora (12) carry long, flowing polyps over a porous skeleton. They frag the same way as other massive LPS — saw the skeleton between polyps — but two things raise the stakes: the polyps must be fully retracted before you cut (cutting extended polyps shreds them), and the porous skeleton is a magnet for infection, so dips and clean cuts matter more than usual. Only frag a colony that has been thriving for months; fragging is not a rescue technique for a fading flowerpot.
What You’ll Need
- Band saw or rotary tool with diamond wheel (strongly preferred over cutters)
- Iodine dip — non-optional here
- Frag plugs, gel glue and epoxy
- Fine coral food (Goniopora respond well to powdered planktonic foods)
Step-by-Step
- Encourage full retraction: gently waft water at the colony, then lift it out only when every polyp is in.
- Saw decisive straight lines through the skeleton, dividing the colony into pieces with several polyps each. Keep it wet, work quickly.
- Iodine-dip every piece for the full recommended time.
- Glue + epoxy each frag to a plug (the porous skeleton soaks glue — use plenty).
- Return frags to gentle flow and moderate light, spaced apart.
Aftercare & Healing
Expect a slow reopening — days for some polyps, weeks for full extension. Begin light feeding with fine planktonic foods once polyps show, two or three times a week. Watch cut edges closely for the first month; healthy frags skin over the cut skeleton, and new polyps bud along the margins.
What Can Go Wrong
Edge recession spreading from a cut: the main failure mode — re-dip, move to cleaner flow, and consider cutting away the receding margin. Polyps never extend: flow too strong or an unsettled frag; Goniopora like gentle, pulsing water. Whole-colony decline post-frag: the parent wasn’t as healthy as it looked — feed heavily and leave it alone.