Capnella spicata Propagation Guide

Propagating Capnella spicata, a tree-form soft coral that drops rooting branches by fission, plus manual fragging onto plugs.

Overview

Capnella spicata is a tree-shaped soft coral in the family Nephtheidae (genus established by Gray in 1869). Like other Capnella it has thick, branching trunks that resemble a tree, with colony form varying by current strength, and it hosts symbiotic algae that supply most of its nutrition. The genus ranges across the Indo-Pacific on reef slopes and rubble zones.

Reproductive Mode

Asexual reproduction has been observed in Capnella. A swelling forms at the base of a branch, which then drops off by fission at the swelling; colonies also reattach by bending and creeping onto rock and by basal division. Detached fragments become firmly rooted within a day.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

A branch dropped naturally by the colony can be placed directly where it should grow. For deliberate fragging, cut a branch with a sharp blade and hold it on a plug, rock, or shell, for instance with a rubber band, until it roots; given how quickly detached pieces anchor, attachment is usually fast.

1. Use a naturally shed branch, or cut one with a sharp blade.
2. Place the branch on a plug, rock, or shell in low flow.
3. Hold it with a rubber band if it does not stay put.
4. Firm rooting typically follows within about a day.

Conditions for Propagation

Keep shed and cut branches in low flow so they stay in place long enough to anchor, with stable mature water aiding recovery. Once rooted, the frag can be moved to the colony's normal light and current.

Common Challenges

Self-fragmentation can scatter rooting branchlets around the tank, so growth may outpace plans. Collecting dropped branches before they settle in unwanted places keeps the colony in check.