Pavona clavus Propagation Guide

Propagating the columnar coral Pavona clavus by cutting a piece from the colony, with its slow massive-columnar growth, spawning biology, and frag care.

Overview

Pavona clavus is a colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae that grows as knobby vertical columns. The genus Pavona ranges across massive, columnar, leaf-like and plate-like forms, and clavus sits at the heavier, columnar end. It is zooxanthellate and largely autotrophic, drawing nutrition from symbiotic algae, with polyps that extend at night.

Reproductive Mode

Pavona reproduce sexually by releasing gametes into the sea, where fertilisation produces a planula larva that settles and buds into a new colony. The genus also spreads asexually: a broken fragment wedged in a suitable position continues to grow and bud. For a heavy columnar species like clavus, the asexual route is the practical one in captivity.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Because clavus forms solid columns rather than thin plates, propagate it by cutting a chunk or column section from the colony. Mount the piece on a rock or plug: dry the base and the surface, apply cyanoacrylate glue, press it into place, and return it to gentle flow to cure. The cut tissue then heals and the frag slowly encrusts and re-establishes columnar growth.

Conditions for Propagation

A clavus frag needs stable reef chemistry, moderate to high light, and steady flow over the cut surface. As a largely autotrophic coral, it depends mainly on strong lighting for energy during recovery; feeding is secondary. Patience matters because the columns thicken slowly.

Common Challenges

The large cut face of a columnar frag is slow to heal and can attract algae before the tissue closes over it. Keep good flow on the wound, monitor for recession, and allow plenty of time before the frag visibly grows.