Eunicea succinea (Knobby Sea Rod) Propagation Guide

Propagating the knobby Caribbean gorgonian Eunicea succinea by cutting a branch and securing it to rock or a plug, with octocoral reproduction and gorgonian care notes.

Overview

Eunicea succinea is a gorgonian-type octocoral in the family Plexauridae, a Caribbean genus established by Lamouroux in 1816. These branched octocorals typically have knobby protuberances from which the polyps protrude, are often stiffened by purple sclerites, and the growth of these corals is rapid, so they can be kept in a reef aquarium. As a shallow-water photosynthetic gorgonian it relies heavily on light.

Reproductive Mode

Octocorals follow a life cycle with a motile planktonic planula larva and a later sessile phase, and their gonads lie near the base of each mesentery, so wild reproduction proceeds through gamete release and a larval stage. In aquaria the rapid-growing Eunicea is multiplied asexually by cutting and re-attaching branch sections.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

To frag a knobby sea rod, cut a branch section with scissors or cutters; cutting a section off a healthy colony does no harm to the rest of it. Secure the cutting to a plug or rock, as most gorgonians encrust onto plugs quickly. Dry the base of the cutting and the plug, apply a couple of dabs of cyanoacrylate glue, and stand the piece upright, since gorgonians are best placed freestanding and secured to rock.

Conditions for Propagation

Good water flow is one of the most important factors in keeping gorgonians, because strong current strips away the shed mucus membrane and keeps polyps extended; photosynthetic species also want moderate to high lighting for several hours a day. With its rapid growth, a well-placed Eunicea cutting encrusts and recovers quickly under brisk flow and good light.

Common Challenges

Weak flow lets the periodic mucus coat linger and algae settle on a fresh cutting, so maintain strong, turbulent current and baste the cutting to clear mucus. Once the base attaches and the polyps re-extend, the colony's rapid growth resumes.