I have a nice leather that I just fragged for the first time about a week ago. I have never done a frag before, but you have to start somewhere. I am willing to pull 2 more frags off of the main coral and swap for a frag of the following:

Ricordea
Kenya Tree
Galaxia
Hammer coral **
Trumpet/Candy coral
Zoanthids
Green star polyps **
Xenia

The ** items are the ones I really would like. I am open to other corals as long as they will grow under 4x96 watt compact flourescents. I would like to trade with someone close to me geographically, but that is not a must, it just saves on shipping. I will ship UPS because I have a pickup at the office each day.

Here is a short movie showing the leather and the frag. That is a 65 gallon tank so you can judge size. I would say the frags are between a quarter and half dollar in size. Sorry for the video quality, I did it with my digital still camera.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/th_P1010044MOV.jpg (http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/?action=view&current=P1010044MOV.flv)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/cbc419ca.jpg

i sold all my xenia's and i bought some more to frag but they arnt all that big or i would trade ya :-)

http://www.freewebs.com/wwest2/xenias.jpg

I'm game to try this Duane :)

I can give you Kenya Tree, and GSP for sure. I'll try to throw in a few extras if I can. I am worried about hammer coral and xenia though when it comes to shipping, but maybe we can try it?

Now someone will just have to tell me how to ship it. Buy a Thermos and just put the frags in baggies inside the Thermos and we are good to go? I'm kinda concerned about the weather too- been very hot lately.

SWEET! I AM EXCITED!

I just got zoos from FL and they were packed in a small tupperware container, sealed with some of that press and seal, and then covered with the lid. Then it was put into a box with some peanuts (not peanut butter Gwen) and they threw in one of those ice bag things that have the gel in them. was shipped on Monday, and arrivved on Wednesday. It was alive and well.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/aa99e53a.jpg

I think the key is to keep the freezer pack in the box, but not directly against the tupperware. It worked on the zoa's but I don't know how hardy they are compared to ther corals.

I checked UPS vs USPS and UPS is about $30 next day, $13 two day where USPS is $19 for next day and $5 for two day. I based this on 30309 zip and a 2lb package.

Gwen, i am not sure if this would work or not. but i was thinking that if you take three baggies, one with the frag and one with just water and one with saltie ice water. just before you ship it you put the ice water in first and then a bag the same temp as the bag you have the frag in, and then the frag bag. my thoughts are the saltie ice water will stay cold for a long time and the temp transfer between the bag in the middle would help the frag bag from getting to cold.. not sure if that would work or not i might run some tests this week lol..

zoas are ok for 2 day shipping, not sure about anything else. I could try the $19 shipping.

Anyway I could get a polyp or 2 of those green zoas?? :D

Or if you want, you can wait til they grow out a little before you ship to my house. :)

Thanks Wes- yeah it will take some thinking for me to figure this out. Also, I would be shipping at least 4 frags *i hope*.

it is really difficult to freeze saltwater. with the thermos method, you place strips of plastic bags in the bottom of the thermos, loosely wrap the frag with plastic bag, place in thermos, place more plastic strips on top, top up with water, and seal lid with tape. the thermos is then placed into a small box that that is cushioned with styro peanuts or bubble wrap. if need, use gel pack. don't use ice....it melts to quickly and if it leaks out of the bag, you'll have problems. most people will also place the thermos and gel pack in sealed plastic bags.

if you intend to ship xenia, make sure it is small........that's all anyone needs to get started anywhere.

Thanks Walrus ;)

anytime gwen.

wildone, those are exception zoos.

I would have no trouble adding a couple polyps of the green zoas. You tell me how to frag it and I will frag it.

safest way is to wedge a rock and let migration happen.

Thanks FW I think I did good on that purchase It cost me $30 including shipping from a nice lady in FL!

i was just wondering if you two traded and how it went?

Not yet, I'm going outta town this weekend, so once I get back and settled back in at home, I will work on it. I did lots of fragging tonite though :) I need to allow the frags to attach a little.

I would like to try and ship Kenya tree, galaxia, hammer coral, zoas, gsp, and xenia. That may be too much, but I will do some thinking and maybe buy the bigger thermos and see if I can get it to work out.

As far as Duane sending me stuff, I don't mind waiting until he has a few more things available like those zoas in the pic. :)

today i got a Green Montipora Digitata, two diferent types of xenias and i am picking up candy cane, and a Neon Acropora Coral tomorrow. also there is a colored acropora i might pick up. i have to see how much everything will run me lol but here in about a month wesley fragging exchange will be up and running :-)

Sounds good! Maybe we can just partner up and do trading in pairs for now. Seems like an easy way to go- just allow those 2 people to work out the details without the confusion of a larger group. And if one person backs out, you're aren't letting the whole team down. :)

yea that would be cool. i do like the rules though and i was thinking about maybe a rating system for everyone that wants to trade. kinda like a there cool or no dont trade thing. but yea i am game. i am a honest person and am willing to do what it takes..

I have a nice piece of leather for you Gwen, but I am waiting for it to attach. I also have a rock wedged agains those zoas waiting for them to spread!

Sounds great- thanks Duane!

Ok Gwen so you have a thermos.....

Here is what I was thinking. I still have not gotten the peice of leather to attach. If you send me a few corals in the thermos, I will send it back with this piece...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/c37cf53b.jpg

and I will also include another frag from the leather that will be a frsh frag unattached...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/5e4bc975.jpg

I also think I can maybe snap the bottom portion of this rubble off with my favorite zoa on it.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/6018ec25.jpg

And I have a Piece of this Zoa that I can send...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010007-8.jpg

And I have a ton of feathers if anyone can tell me how to shag these off the rock. I actually may have a small piece of rubble with a few on it.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/3b14a13f.jpg

And I think I can get this small (size of a small pill) piece of red shroom. The one in the back.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/227095ea.jpg

How does that suit you?

ooooooooooooooooooh I'm excited now!! :D

Ok I bought this thermos except in blue. 1g Rubbermaid brand- does anyone think I will have a problem with it? Do I need to buy a more expensive one?

http://www.mainstsupply.com/images/200/m48199l.jpg

Duane- what day do you want me to ship? I will do 24 hour shipping.
Please PM me your address.

Also please list the frags in order of what u want the most. Since I won't know exactly how many will fit until I start packing. I am hoping to get 5 plastic baggies in there, but I don't know for sure. I'm thinking a few corals can go in the same bag- like the kenya tree and GSP- they are touching in my tank with no problems, so I'm guess they should be ok.

So let me think this out loud.

Bag 1- GSP and Kenya Tree
Bag 2- Branching Hammer coral
Bag 3- Galaxia - 3 polyps superglued to rock- kinda small
Bag 4- Zoanthids - fragging some now - at least 2 types, they aren't sticking very well, but I can send with the zip tie holding the rock
Bag 5- Xenia- haven't fragged it yet, but I could stick it in the bag unattached.

If I just put them in baggies, will they ship ok? Should I attach them to styrofoam inside the bags?

in all honesty my opinion is a thermos is a thermos :) they all work the same..

in all honesty my opinion is a thermos is a thermos :) they all work the same..

ok cool

I forgot to mention temps- should I be worried? I have no idea how the mail system works. As they travel to Duane's house, will they be kept at room temp for the most part? Left outside any?

Bag 1- GSP and Kenya Tree
Bag 2- Branching Hammer coral
Bag 3- Galaxia - 3 polyps superglued to rock- kinda small
Bag 4- Zoanthids - fragging some now - at least 2 types, they aren't sticking very well, but I can send with the zip tie holding the rock
Bag 5- Xenia- haven't fragged it yet, but I could stick it in the bag unattached.


Keep them in the order above, but just swap bags 4 and 5. When I send it back with mine they will all be loose except for one of the zoas (assuming I can snap that piece of rubble rock off), you have much more experience attaching them so i want you to do it. Also, it seems you will be getting the shorter end of the stick here, so as I get more stuff, I will hold some back to send you another shipment.

I think they will ship ok without the styrofoam attached to them. We are talking overnight. I think Moday thru Wed would be the best days to ship to me. That way I will get it and if there is a problem with the 24 hour thing it won't sit all weekend, as I will have you ship it to my work.

I will PM you with my address. Thanks Gwen, you rock!

:cool:

I have received a coral from SC 4 weeks ago and it was in a tuperware and one of those cold packs was in the box, but no up against it. It is that Zoa you like and it looks great.

Should I buy a cold pack? or just freeze a small amount of water in a baggie and put in there?

What do I use to keep the ice from directly touching the frags? Maybe a sponge?

I think that all the corals are going to be in the thermos and it should hold the temp for 24 hours.

Gwen, I've heard (but don't know from personal experience) that xenia doesn't ship well without doing the Styrofoam thing...

So what do I do? Just loosely ziptie the xenia to styrofoam? I do know the chances are iffy, but I wanna try my best to get it there alive.

the styrofoam was intended for wholesale shipping. the method was designed to keep the coral from protruding out of water and become exposed to the pure oxygen that the bag was inflated with. the oxygen has a more dramatic caustic effect on xenias than in some other specimens. xenias are just tough to ship.......the best bet is just a small piece and more water.

Keep them in the order above, but just swap bags 4 and 5. When I send it back with mine they will all be loose except for one of the zoas (assuming I can snap that piece of rubble rock off), you have much more experience attaching them so i want you to do it. Also, it seems you will be getting the shorter end of the stick here, so as I get more stuff, I will hold some back to send you another shipment.

I think they will ship ok without the styrofoam attached to them. We are talking overnight. I think Moday thru Wed would be the best days to ship to me. That way I will get it and if there is a problem with the 24 hour thing it won't sit all weekend, as I will have you ship it to my work.

I will PM you with my address. Thanks Gwen, you rock!

:cool:

Do you still have some coral in available to trade Fat Walrus?

What do you have to trade JBD? It wouldn't be Purple Goniopora would it?

I plan to ship the corals tomorrow, but I'm very nervous.
Temps have been very high and even in a cooler I know if they were to sit outside for any period of time, they aren't gonna stay cool. I plan to use a little ice, but I'm still worried.

Also I checked on USPS.com and it doesn't seem like there is shipping overnight from here to OH. It says "overnight to most areas" and when I plug in the zips, it says 2 days. There is shipping from post office to post office and maybe that could be an option.

UPS wants a lot of money- like $70 for 4lbs and thats if I can get it under 4lbs.

Someone please tell me that this is gonna work, because I'm very nervous!!

Ok everything is almost ready to go. Found a perfect sized box in the attic. Fragged the xenia and hammer and attached them to styrofoam so they have a better chance of making it. Frags will be going in baggies in the morning and then off to the PO. Duane will pick them up at the PO so it gets there in one day.


:fingers: crossing my fingers hoping this turns out ok.

Just spent an hour trying to ship the corals. The only option with USPS to Duane's zip is 2 days even if I send it directly to the PO, not only that, they wouldn't ship anything live when temps are over 85.

Fed Ex/ UPS wanted $100 for one day. I can ship them 2 days for about $50, but they can't guarantee temps.

Corals are here at work sitting on my desk.

wow thats alot of money, what if you didnt say it was live items? would it be cheaper?

I don't think it would matter as far the cost, but I have the box clearly marked "live corals." I want people to know so maybe they won't sit outside as long during the shipping process.

I am mostly likely going to send them through DHL. The lady on the phone quoted me $15, but when I went online it was saying $60. They have my credit card number so I prolly won't know the cost until its over which is kinda scary! The lady on the phone didn't even know what corals were if that tells you anything about the price she quoted.

I hope at least the zoas survive, but I don't have much hope. :(

Duane- here is what I packaged:
Galaxia- 3 polyps
Zoas- 3 kinds
Hammer coral- 1 polyp that is splitting
3 bristleworms- had collected 6 a few days ago, but I think the wrasse ate a few. :o
1 stick- very small in the xenia bag and grows well under PC's
GSPs
Kenya Tree

I think that's it- its all I can remember.

Corals just left my office via DHL!! YAY! :clap:

Cost is unknown :eek:

I'll tell you what, Gwen went over and above today trying to get the corals out the door to me. I have a lot of paybacks to send her way. No matter what the cost I will make sure you are covered! I appreciate all you hard work and can't wait to get them in my hands.
I looked at the DHL site and it would be $15 to ship it 2nd day or like $47 for next day. So hopefully they went next day, but if they didn't well we learned from the experience. I had zoas shipped from SC to Oh and it went 2 day and they are doing well (and the temps were high then as well).

Thanks again Gwen I will make it all up to you!

wow thats alot of money, what if you didnt say it was live items? would it be cheaper?
i know that major airlines charge half the price for live food fish that they charge for live aquarium fish.

now that is messed up. if its alive its alive lol

No problem Duane- if they get there alive or at least everything but the xenia, then it will have been all worth it. :D

I am anxious to see how they shipped. You guys are the guinea pigs. :)

I just got an email saying the corals have been received. Duane- let me know how everything looks!! :)

Just talked to Duane and everything seems to have done well. Everything is already in his tank so once polyps open up we will know more. :D YAY!!

I have some photos of the awesome corals that Gwen shipped me. Everything looks like it is doing OK, however I have no experience with most of the corals I received. So I thought I would post a phot and tell you what I think it is and then open it up for discussion as to suggested care. I may not get the ID's correct as I am really green at that. Here we go...

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010012.jpg
An SPS, thats all I know. I have it very high and close to my PC lighting. I used some putty that hardens to keep it attached.


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010014.jpg

Bad pic, but I think it is Galaxia.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010019.jpg

Xenia - I an unsure how to handle this frag.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010020-1.jpg
Kenya Tree


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010027.jpg

Green Star Polyps? I am unsure if they are ok or not.....

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010015.jpg
Button Polyp or Zoa (are they the same thing?)

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010016.jpg

Another


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010017.jpg

and another.....


Let the discussions begin...


THANKS AGAIN GWEN!

Make sure you let me know how much the shipping was......

Yeah! They made it to you! The only ones I have are zoas and xenia. The zoas look pretty good. I've never seen my xenia curl like that so I don't know if it is OK or not.

wildeone, it looks like you got the IDs. the SPS is an accro, i can't see it too well. button polyps are just a common name for larger zoos.

That's so cool to actually seem them in your tank!! Duane said that one bag of zoas opened up in the cooler and they still made it!!

The xenia looks ok considering the travel. It looks like it should make it. Are the hands pulsing? You can keep it anywhere in your tank- grows in all light and flow conditions provided it likes your water.

All the zoas look great- they can go anywhere in your tank. Always wear gloves when u frag zoas and if u pick them up without gloves ie to move them, just be careful and gentle. I've heard of people going to the hospital over zoa poisoning. You prolly already know since u have zoas.

Hammer coral- didn't see a pic, how does it look? Forgot to tell ya, but I can't touch my hammer coral without it putting little paper cuts all over my hands. I can touch the hard base, but not the polyps, so be careful. Keep it mid to high in your tank. If it gets too much flow it will put out sweepers. Not sure if that's good or not. I had it in average to higher flow and it does fine- have it in 3 different spots in my tank.

Galaxia- keep higher in the tank. Will put out sweepers and sting other corals, just be aware of that. You may not see sweepers until it grows a little more. It won't sting your hands though, so don't worry. It does grow slow.

Kenya Tree- This coral can get crazy and outta control like xenia. You can put it anywhere in your tank. I have it low in my tank. Grows fast and sprouts babies all over the place.

Green Star Polyps- will grow anywhere in your tank. Grows fast. Just be careful where u put it since it will be all over the place in no time. May wanna isolate it on its own rock. Zoas can be the same way. Give it time and the polyps should come out- they are fairly hardy.

Ok here is a pic of your SPS stick in my nano. This is the actual frag that ur little frag came from. This grows about 4 times faster under my PC's. It should do well.

http://www.talkingreef.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=485&stc=1&d=1153357352

good to hear it worked out for everybody.

Oops, I forgot the hammer!

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/02b1fd75.jpg

The Kenyas are actually upright now. So they look real good. I have a question about the xenia. When you say pulse what do you mean. Do you mean the heads open and close at a fast rate? Also I just have it banded to a rock, is that ok with xenia?

I am interested in seeing the GSP come out. I didn't realize that they would pull back in like they do.

Here is a photo of my tank from the side. My emeralds keep throwing my corals all over so I have resorted to using marine putty that hardens to hold stuff fast. But I want to get the ties off of everything before I fasten the rockwork.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/bca7af60.jpg

And another

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/b26e2f72.jpg

Yes the xenia hands will open and close at a pretty good speed. Rubberbanding it to a rock is good- just don't do it too tight or it may come loose. Give it about a week to attach.

The zoas- the green ones have been fragged for 1-2 weeks- give them another week and check to see if they are attached before u take off the zip tie. The bigger zoas, button polyps, were just fragged, give them at least 3 weeks to grow onto the rock.

The zip tie for the GSP was just taken off, so keep them in lower flow if possible. The center of the frag isn't attached that well, but it has grown nicely over the rock on the outter edges.

I received my thermos back today from Duane. I had asked him to hold off awhile since new floors are being installed, and the tank had to be moved.

It turns out I had to put all the frags in the nano because of the zoa eating nudibranchs in the 72g.

Everything arrived in good shape and I will post pics soon. Duane and I decided to do a yearly swap since this turned out so well.

Thanks Duane!

Here are pics of the frags from our swap. Everything is doing fine.

Tank was just cleaned so pics didn't turn out so well.

Nice frags!