Sarcophyton trocheliophorum: Fragging and Propagation
Propagation of the frilly-capped toadstool Sarcophyton trocheliophorum by fragging the capitulum and reattaching cuttings, with notes on shedding, terpene chemistry and wild spawning.
Overview
Sarcophyton trocheliophorum is a toadstool leather coral of the family Alcyoniidae whose capitulum often develops frilly, ruffled edges. Like all Sarcophyton it is an octocoral with eight-tentacled, dimorphic polyps - prominent autozooids on the cap and tiny embedded polyps - and relies on symbiotic zooxanthellae for most of its energy through photosynthesis.
Reproductive Mode
Home increase is asexual. The fleshy tissue regenerates strongly, so cuttings of the cap heal into new colonies while the parent regrows its margin. Broadcast spawning happens in the wild, but propagators rely on fragging rather than larvae.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Trim a section from the ruffled margin of the capitulum with a sterile, sharp blade and divide it into manageable pieces. Each frag is banded, set in mesh, or rested on rubble in gentle flow until tissue grips the surface, since the slick body does not bond reliably with glue alone. A short iodine dip and a seawater rinse after cutting help clean the wound and clear slime.
Conditions for Propagation
- Lighting: 75-200 PAR (medium)
- Flow: moderate, raised after attachment
- Temperature: 24-26 C
- Mature tank: at least about 3 months old
- Remove shed mucus that can irritate neighbours
Sexual Reproduction
Wild colonies of these gonochoric octocorals broadcast eggs or sperm into the water column; fertilised eggs become planula larvae that swim, settle on hard substrate and bud into colonies. The sexual route is reported in nature but is impractical at home.
Common Challenges
Both parent and frags may close and form a shiny waxy cuticle for a few days before sloughing it and reopening their polyps. Sarcophyton defends itself with terpene compounds (for example sarcophytoxide) that deter predators and can suppress neighbouring corals, so the slime expelled during cutting should be siphoned out.