Sarcophyton crassocaule: Fragging and Propagation

Propagating the thick-stalked toadstool Sarcophyton crassocaule by fragging the capitulum and reattaching cuttings, with notes on shedding and terpene chemistry.

Overview

Sarcophyton crassocaule is a thick-stalked toadstool leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae, with a stout stem supporting the mushroom-shaped capitulum. Being an octocoral it has eight-tentacled, dimorphic polyps and draws most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae through photosynthesis.

Reproductive Mode

Home increase is asexual. The robust tissue regenerates well, so cap cuttings grow into new colonies while the parent recovers. Sexual broadcast spawning takes place in the wild but is not how hobbyists multiply these corals.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Trim a section from the capitulum margin with a sterile sharp blade and cut it into frags. Each is banded, set in mesh, or rested on rubble in gentle flow until it grips, since the slick body will not bond reliably with glue alone. An iodine dip and a seawater rinse after cutting reduce infection risk and wash off slime.

Conditions for Propagation

• Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium)
• Flow: moderate, raised after the frag anchors
• Temperature: 24-26 C
• Mature tank: at least about 3 months old
• Remove shed mucus that can irritate neighbours

Sexual Reproduction

Gonochoric octocoral colonies broadcast eggs or sperm into the water; fertilised eggs become planula larvae that disperse, settle and bud into colonies. This is a natural process rather than a home technique.

Common Challenges

Recovering frags routinely retract and form a shiny waxy cuticle for a few days before sloughing it and reopening. Sarcophyton produces defensive terpenes (for example sarcophytoxide) that deter predators and can suppress neighbouring corals, so the slime released during cutting should be siphoned out.