Orange Crush Acanthastrea Growth pics and fragging pics

[RandyO]

I received a frag of the Original Orange Crush back in March 2005 from Tighaboy, who got it from Mike at The Captive Reef in PA. This was one of the first Orange Acans to come into the trade, and people went nuts for it since it grew so fast, and was a beautiful coral.

Here is the frag from March 2005
It was 2 big polyps and 2 small polyps
http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushMarch05.jpg

Here it is in April 2005
http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushApril.jpg

At that time I received another frag of it from someone else, but also originating from The Captive Reef in PA.

This piece had 2 large polyps and 3 small polyps

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrush3April.jpg

Here is a pic of both frags in April 2005

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrush2April.jpg

August 05
http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushAug05.jpg

And both frags in October 05
http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushOct05.jpg

[RandyO]

The frags have grown over their frag rocks and it was time to cut one up.

Here it is in a collection cup waiting to be cut.

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrush206.jpg


And here it is being cut by the wet tile saw.

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushTilesaw206.jpg

Underside after cut. This guy was starting to encrust the bottom of the frag rock.

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushTilesawA206.jpg

Snapped it open with a screwdriver

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushTilesawB206.jpg

Used a razor blade to cut the top attached flesh

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushTilesawC206.jpg

Finished product

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/OrangeCrushTilesawD206.jpg

[gastone]

Great pictures and demonstration Randy.

Garrett.

[cmondo]

Nice job Randy, could you post some follow up pics when the frags start healing and growing. Thanks.

[Purple Haze]

I guess I need to feed more often ;)

[jjmcat]

thanks for the demo.I love the fact that the orange crush is a fast grower .I was thinking of fragging mine as well and was scared to.

[RandyO]

Thanks guys.

jjmcat, I was scared to since it was the first time I tried to frag it. But it went smoothly.

[TCU Reefer]

Awesome pics. Thanks for sharing.

[rickyfins]

Are you selling the frag? I would be interested!

thanks,

Rick

Keep on Fragging!

[Jacob D]

ahh! don't cut those they're too nice :)

I have similar piece that I got from Atlantic Reef around that time. It was originally 3 polyps, I don't know how many it is now. It does grow fast! Mine will never be cut though, it's encrusting a massive rock. I'm looking forward to the day that the whole rock is covered.

[RandyO]

I had those 2 pieces, plus a third that was given to me from another reefer. It would have been nice to have one big one instead of the 3 pieces I had. So I thought I'd see what it was like to chop one up.

rickyfins,
Sorry, I took the two frags I made to a local fish store. I kept the mother chunk so I may frag it again some day. It's healed up already.

[rickyfins]

Well keep me in mind when you frag again, as I would really like a frag of that. Thanks for getting back to me quickly. It really is a nice piece. Have a good one!

thanks,

rick

[cmondo]

Hey Randy, just out of curiosity have you ever had problems with other corals being stung by the orange acan? I have heard they are very agressive in their toxin production if they are put near another coral.

And just out of curiosity have you ever fragged your micromussa?

Thanks,
Chris

[joe18]

Cmondo
i dont know about toxins,
but orange crush usually tend to be Echinata, or subbecninata,
both of which, arre agressive, and will kill many nerby corals(except yuma...i think,,,,could be wrong)
but they will win over and Echino, or a Lord.
not such a big issue, just keep it a few inches from your other corals.

micromussa fragging, is done by many, but if they are trying to remove single polyps, it is very difficult, as im sure you know micromussa have teeeny tiny polyps.
but its done.

joe

[cmondo]

Thanks joe, yeah I was just wondering becuase I have heard from several sources that if the echinatas "sense" another coral close to them, they start chemical warfare, and that is what causes the burning or death of the nearby coral.

And on a side note, why do you only collect acan's in secret?

[RandyO]

No one has ever figured out for sure what the Orange Crush Acan is, but it's most likely A.echinata.

Echinata's are very aggressive. They send out mesinary filaments to attack nearby corals. I see them send these filaments out at night to kill Coralline Algae. I wish some of my lords did this. I have a few lords that can not grow over coralline.

Here is my favorite picture of Echinata aggression.

Picture by Tigahboy
http://www.the3wisemen.net/acanwar.jpg

The victim is a lord frag.


I like to frag my Micromussa using the tile saw. Makes nice clean cuts, and the micros just grow down the sides of the cuts in just a few weeks.

Here's a pic of some old Micro cuttings.

http://users.adelphia.net/~randyolszewski/images/MicromussafragsNov05.jpg

[cmondo]

Thanks for all the pics and for defining the effect the orange echinata has on other corals.