Cladiella sphaerophorum Propagation Guide
Propagating the branching cauliflower soft coral Cladiella sphaerophorum by fragging, with notes on its heavy mucus and fast growth.
Overview
Cladiella sphaerophorum is a branching soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae (order Malacalcyonacea, class Octocorallia). Colonies are creamy or pale grey with short rounded or conical lobes and a fluffy look when the polyps are extended. The genus is native to the Indo-Pacific, grows fast, and is notably sticky to the touch because it produces a great deal of mucus.
Reproductive Mode
In the aquarium Cladiella is propagated asexually. A cutting taken from a branch regenerates into a complete colony that is genetically identical to the parent, and the fast growth of the genus means a single specimen quickly yields material to divide.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Snip a branch tip or side branch with coral cutters. Because Cladiella sheds copious mucus when cut, baste the slime away and keep it out of the main system; the slime also tends to coat glue, so taking a small piece of rock with the frag gives a cleaner bonding surface. Dry the base, then glue it to a plug or secure it with a rubber band; an unattached piece can also be set into crushed coral or shell in low flow and glued later once it has gripped.
- Cut a branch, ideally with a chip of rock at the base.
- Baste off the heavy mucus and keep it out of the display.
- Dry the base, then glue or band the frag to a plug.
- Hold the frag in low flow until it attaches firmly.
Conditions for Propagation
Keep fresh frags in gentle flow so glue cures and the cut seals without the mucus interfering. After attachment, lighting and current can be raised toward the colony's normal medium requirements.
Common Challenges
The pronounced mucus production is the main obstacle: it can prevent glue from holding and can briefly burden water quality. Cutting with a bit of rock, drying the surface, or banding instead of gluing all help, and a post-fragging water change clears the released slime.