How to Frag Corals: A Beginner's Guide to Coral Propagation
One of the most rewarding moments in the reef hobby is cutting a single coral into pieces and watching each one grow into a brand-new colony. At Tropical Treasures in Cheyenne, we love seeing customers go from nervously buying their first frag to confidently propagating their own — and even trading frags with other local reefers. Fragging sounds intimidating, but with the right tools and a calm hand, it's genuinely beginner-friendly.
This guide covers what fragging is, why people do it, the tools you'll need, and a simple step-by-step for your first cut.
What is coral fragging? ✂️
"Fragging" is short for fragmenting — taking a cutting (a "frag") from a parent coral so it can grow into a new colony. Because corals are colonial animals, a healthy piece will heal and continue growing on its own. It's how the hobby shares corals sustainably, and it's a great way to thin out a fast-growing colony before it shades out its neighbors. Many of the corals in our shop started life as a frag.
Tools you'll need 🧰
You don't need a fancy lab — just a few basics: a sharp pair of bone cutters or coral cutters for soft and LPS corals (and a small band saw or wire cutters for hard SPS branches), reef-safe super glue gel and/or two-part epoxy putty, frag plugs or small rubble rocks to mount the cuttings, a clean container of tank water for the fragging "surgery," and gloves plus eye protection. Some corals release irritating compounds when cut, so protect your skin and eyes.
Which corals are easiest to frag first? 🌱
Start with forgiving, fast-healing corals before you tackle prized SPS. Great beginner candidates include soft corals like leathers and Kenya tree, plus easygoing zoanthids and mushroom corals (which can sometimes be encouraged to split with just a careful cut). These shrug off mistakes and heal quickly, building your confidence before you move on to LPS and SPS.
Step-by-step: your first frag 📝
Work calmly and keep everything wet. Here's the basic flow: 1) Pick a healthy, well-established coral and choose where you'll cut. 2) Remove the colony (or the section) and make a clean, deliberate cut with your cutters — fast and confident beats sawing back and forth. 3) Let the frag rest in a separate container of tank water for a few minutes so it can shed slime. 4) Dab the base dry on a paper towel, then glue it to a frag plug or rubble with reef-safe gel. 5) Place the new frag low and in gentle flow while it heals, then move it to its final spot once it's attached and showing good polyp extension.
Aftercare: helping frags heal 💚
Newly cut frags are recovering, so give them stable conditions — steady temperature, clean water, and moderate light and flow. Keep your water parameters rock-solid during healing, and resist the urge to move frags around. Most soft corals and zoas attach within a week or two; LPS and SPS take a bit longer. A little patience now pays off in healthy, thriving colonies.
Is fragging right for you? 🤔
If your corals are growing well and you've got steady, stable water, you're ready to try fragging. Start with one easy soft coral and a single confident cut — there's no need to frag your whole tank at once. If your tank is brand-new or your parameters are still bouncing around, hold off until things settle; healthy parent colonies make for healthy frags.
The bottom line
Fragging is one of the most satisfying skills in the reef hobby: it costs almost nothing, multiplies your favorite corals, and lets you trade with the local reefkeeping community. Grab a few simple tools, start with a forgiving coral, keep everything wet, and go slow. Want help picking cutters, glue, or your first frags? Stop by Tropical Treasures in Cheyenne or call 307-369-1118 — we're always happy to talk corals.