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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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.
USA 