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For fragging zoas, the 
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Ideal for precision coral propagation tasks such as fragging zoanthids. It is best used for achieving a clean separation of the rock or coral skeleton without causing damage through crushing.
A highly recommended adhesive for coral propagation. Its thick gel consistency is specifically valued for its ability to hold strong and stay in place firmly when mounting corals underwater to plugs.
Bulk Reef SupplySource | Citation share |
|---|---|
Top 10 Tips For Fragging Soft Corals - Bulk Reef Supplyhttps://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/top-10-tips-fragging-soft-corals | 2.8% |
 How do y'all frag your corals? I've never done it before. : r/ReefTank - Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/ReefTank/comments/1muzfew/how_do_yall_frag_your_corals_ive_never_done_it/ | 2.6% |
 Best Fragging Method For Zoashttps://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php | 2.3% |
 Tools for Fragging Corals | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Bloghttps://reefbuilders.com/2020/06/12/tools-for-fragging-corals/ | 2.2% |
 Best way to frag zoa - Reef Centralhttps://forums.reefcentral.com/threads/best-way-to-frag-zoa.1575336/ | 2.0% |
Fragging Super Glue & Epoxy - Bulk Reef Supplyhttps://www.bulkreefsupply.com/saltwater-aquarium-fragging-supplies/super-glue-epoxies.html | 2.0% |
 Top 10 Tips for Successfully Fragging Soft Corals, Zoanthids, Leathers, Mushrooms and More! - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch | 1.8% |
How to frag Zoanthids the RIGHT way ft. Stratosphere "Strat ...https://www.youtube.com/watch | 1.7% |
 Coral Cutters - Reef Genetics – Top Shelf Aquaticshttps://topshelfaquatics.com/products/coral-cutters-reef-genetics | 1.6% |
 Specialty - Fragging - Glue & Epoxy - SaltwaterAquarium.comhttps://www.saltwateraquarium.com/specialty/fragging/glue-epoxy/ | 1.5% |
For zoanthid (zoa) fragging, I would actually skip a traditional bone cutter as your primary tool. Bone cutters are excellent for hard coral skeletons (SPS, branching LPS), but zoas are soft corals attached to rock or plugs, so you usually want a tool that makes a clean cut without crushing tissue.
Best overall:
If you specifically want bone cutters:
My top picks:
If you only plan to frag zoas, my “buy once” kit would be:
That setup will cover most home zoa propagation without buying expensive SPS-focused gear.
Fragging zoas is relatively straightforward, but because zoanthids can attach to irregular rock surfaces, mats, or plugs, having the right gear makes the process cleaner and much less stressful on the coral.
Best Bone Cutters (Coral Cutters) for Zoas
When choosing a bone cutter, you want surgical-grade stainless steel so it resists the corrosive saltwater environment and doesn't rust out after a few uses. For zoas (which usually grow on a mat over rock or frag plugs rather than thick branching skeletons), heavy-duty surgical bone cutters or side-cutting pliers work best.
Best Glue Gel for Coral Propagation
For gluing zoas, standard super glue does not work—you need a 100% cyanoacrylate gel . Gel is mandatory because it holds its shape long enough to bridge the gap between the wet frag plug and the coral mat/plug. Liquid super glue will just run off into the water.
Note: Always wear eye protection and gloves when fragging zoanthids, as some species contain palytoxin which can be dangerous if it enters a cut or splashes in your eyes.
If you'd like, tell me:
I can give you a step-by-step walkthrough for the best technique.
Propagating zoanthids (zoas) is relatively straightforward, but having the right surgical-grade tools and heavy-duty gel makes the process clean, safe, and successful.
Best Bone Cutters for Zoas
For zoanthids, you want a pair of surgical-grade stainless steel bone cutters (often styled as crescent or moon-shaped cutters) that allow you to slice cleanly through frag disks, plugs, or the rock matrix they are attached to. Avoid cheap metal clippers that rust instantly in saltwater.
Best Glue Gel for Coral Propagation
Standard super glue will run everywhere and fail to bond wet surfaces. You need 100% Cyanoacrylate Gel . Thicker gels allow you to build a "glob" or base that bridges the gap between the frag plug and the zoa mat.
Quick Zoa Fragging Tips
If you'd like, let me know:
For zoas specifically, I’d keep it simple: you don’t need a saw. A good bone cutter + very thick cyanoacrylate gel is the sweet spot.
Actually, for a dedicated reefing tool, I’d favor the BRS SPS Coral Bone Cutter. BRS currently lists it around $16–$17, and it’s designed specifically for breaking/cutting small coral skeletons.
For zoas, the key is using the cutter to break the rock/skeleton underneath the colony, rather than trying to cut through the zoanthid tissue with the bone cutter. BRS specifically recommends breaking up zoa colonies with bone cutters and then using scissors for smaller divisions while preserving some substrate.
Bob Smith Industries IC-Gel is my favorite for zoas. It's an extremely thick cyanoacrylate gel, which makes it much easier to put a controlled blob on a frag plug/disc and keep the zoa where you want it. BRS also specifically calls out IC-Gel as one of the best coral-fragging glues because of its thick consistency and fast cure.
Excellent alternative: BRS Extra Thick Gel Super Glue. It's inexpensive and BRS recommends it for soft-coral fragging.
If you're starting a zoa fragging setup, I'd get:
One important point: zoas and especially Palythoa can contain palytoxin. Wear gloves and eye protection, avoid aerosolizing/splashing their tissue, and don't use kitchen tools. BRS specifically recommends these precautions when fragging zoanthids.
For the actual mounting, use a small amount of gel on the frag disc, briefly dip the glue into tank water, then press the piece of rubble/rock carrying the zoas into it. Don't try to glue the fleshy zoanthid tissue itself; preserve a little piece of the substrate underneath.
If you tell me whether your zoas are on a plug, a large piece of rock, or encrusted directly onto your aquascape, I can tell you the easiest way I'd cut that particular colony.
If you're specifically fragging zoanthids, I would not make the bone cutter your primary cutting tool. Bone cutters are great for breaking the rock/plug underneath the colony, but a sharp scalpel or razor gives you much cleaner control over the zoa mat.
1. Bone cutter — Tamsco Instruments Coral Cutter
$18.00
For a general reef fragging tool, this is a good inexpensive choice. It's stainless steel and has curved jaws, which are handy for breaking zoa colonies into manageable pieces. If you're going to be cutting SPS as well, I'd step up to a heavier-duty cutter.
2. Glue — BSI IC-Gel
$8.99
This would be my #1 choice for coral glue. Bob Smith Industries IC-Gel is an extremely thick cyanoacrylate gel, so it doesn't immediately run off a wet frag plug or rock. BRS specifically recommends thick gel for securing soft-coral frags, and IC-Gel has a particularly thick consistency.
For the actual propagation, try to leave a little bit of substrate attached to each zoa piece rather than scraping the polyps completely off. Put a small blob of gel on the plug, press the substrate/base into it rather than smearing glue directly over the living tissue, and hold it in place for roughly 30–60 seconds.
If you're planning to frag mostly zoas, I can also give you a $30–$50 “best bang for the buck” complete zoa fragging setup with specific cutters, scalpel, glue, plugs, and safety gear.
Propagating zoanthids (zoas) is relatively straightforward, but having the right tools makes the process much cleaner, safer, and more successful.
Best Bone Cutters for Zoas
When fragging zoas, you are usually clipping through a calcium-based rock/plug or slicing through the mat. Surgical-grade stainless steel cutters with ergonomic, grippy handles and a strong return spring are ideal. Avoid cheap household or hardware store pliers, which rust instantly and lack precision.
Best Glue Gel for Coral Propagation
You must use a 100% cyanoacrylate gel . Standard liquid super glue is too runny, washes away instantly in water, and won't hold the weight of a frag or form a proper base. Gel allows you to build a little "mound" or "ice cream cone" for the coral mat to nest into.
If you'd like, let me know:
I can give you a complete, step-by-step propagation guide tailored to your setup.
For zoas specifically, I would not make a bone cutter your primary cutting tool. Zoas are soft-bodied, so a very sharp scalpel/razor gives you much cleaner cuts; bone cutters are useful for breaking the underlying rock/plug.
1. Bone cutter — Seapora 8" Stainless Coral Cutter
$25.49
A good all-around reef cutter with stainless construction. It's particularly useful when your zoa colony is attached to a plug or rock and you want to cut/break the substrate into small pieces rather than forcing the zoa tissue itself through the cutter.
2. Glue gel — BSI IC-Gel
$16.00
This is my pick for mounting zoa frags. It's a thick cyanoacrylate gel, which is much easier to control than thin super glue and works well for attaching frags to plugs or rubble.
Cheaper/smaller alternative: ME Coral Coral Gel Glue is currently around $10 for 20 g.
$25.49
$16.00
$9.99
$12.99
One important tip: don't use the bone cutter directly on the zoa tissue. If they're on a frag plug, cut/break the plug underneath the colony, then use a razor to separate the mat. That gives you much cleaner, less traumatic frags.
If you're planning to mass-propagate zoas (e.g. 20–100+ frags at a time), I can also recommend a much better $50–100 propagation setup rather than buying individual tools.
Fragging zoas is relatively straightforward because you aren't always cutting through hard calcium carbonate skeletons—often you are cutting through a mat or a piece of rubble rock they are attached to . However, having the right tools makes the process clean, safe, and successful.
Best Bone Cutters for Coral Propagation
When choosing bone cutters, look for surgical-grade stainless steel designed specifically for aquariums to minimize rusting and ensure clean shearing rather than crushing. Avoid standard hardware store wire cutters, which rust instantly and pinch unevenly.
Best Glue Gel for Coral Propagation
For coral and zoanthid fragging, you must use a 100% cyanoacrylate gel . Regular liquid super glue is too runny, washes away in water, and won't form the necessary "mound" to cradle a frag.
Pro-Tip for Zoas: Zoanthids produce a toxin called palytoxin , which can be extremely dangerous if it enters an open cut or splashes into your eyes/mouth. Always wear eye protection and nitrile/latex gloves when fragging zoas, and work in a well-ventilated area.
Are your zoas currently growing on a flat rock/plug mat or attached to a larger branching structure , and will you be gluing them out of water or directly underwater in the tank?
When fragging zoanthids (zoas), success comes down to a clean cut through the mat or base rock and using an adhesive that can handle soft, slightly slimy tissue.
Best Bone Cutters for Zoas
For zoas, you aren't typically cutting massive skeletal branches; rather, you are clipping small pieces of rubble rock or frag plugs that the zoa mat is attached to.
Made of surgical-grade stainless steel (like 316 stainless), these are robust, resist saltwater corrosion well if washed properly, and have sharp, flat jaws that let you nip right under a zoa mat on a plug or rock.
Excellent for smaller hands or precise, close-up snips. The fine-pointed tips let you get into tight angles on irregular frag rubble.
Pro-Tip: Pair your bone cutters with a clean, sharp scalpel or razor blade (#10 or #11 blade). Use the razor to gently slice the mat between polyps, and use the bone cutter to chip away or trim the underlying plug/rock.
Best Glue Gel for Zoas
You must use a 100% cyanoacrylate gel super glue. Regular liquid super glue is too runny and will wash away or damage the coral tissue, while standard hardware store epoxies don't grip soft zoa mats well on their own.
Highly favored in the reef hobby because it holds its shape (like a little dollop or "ice cream cone") instead of running flat. The extra thickness helps bridge the gap between an uneven piece of rubble and a flat frag plug.
Comes in specialized positive-pressure tubes or multi-packs that minimize waste and don't back-siphon or pre-cure in the tube as quickly. It is ultra-thick and safe for aquatic environments.
Readily available household alternatives that are 100% cyanoacrylate-based and reef-safe. The control-squeeze bottles on Loctite make precise application much easier.
Quick Zoas Fragging Tip
Zoa mats can be slimy, which prevents glue from sticking. Pat the bottom of the zoa frag dry with a paper towel for just 2–3 seconds before pressing it into the dollop of gel glue on your plug. Always wear eye protection and gloves when fragging zoas due to the risk of palytoxin.
If you'd like, I can:
If you're fragging zoas specifically, I’d actually put a sharp scalpel/razor ahead of bone cutters. Bone cutters are useful for breaking/cutting the rock or frag plug underneath the zoas, but they can crush the tissue if you try to clip through the polyps themselves. Experienced reefers commonly recommend taking a small piece of substrate with the zoas whenever possible.
$18.00
$40.00
$19.99
$62.44
Bone cutter: I'd get the Tamsco 5.5" Coral Cutter for general reef use. It's stainless steel, compact, and has a curved jaw that is handy for getting underneath pieces of rock.
If you're going to be breaking thicker SPS skeletons or rock, step up to the heavy-duty version.
Glue gel: My first choice would be BSI IC-Gel. It's a very thick cyanoacrylate gel, which is exactly what you want for mounting zoa pieces because it doesn't run all over the plug/rock. It's also widely used in the reef hobby.
For a larger tube if you're doing a lot of propagation, Two Little Fishies CorAffix Pro is another excellent option and is specifically formulated for attaching zoanthids and other corals.
Big tip: Don't try to "cut the heads off" with the bone cutters. For the best survival, make small pieces that include zoa tissue/mat + a little substrate underneath. Community experience strongly favors this over cutting individual polyps free and gluing them directly.
If you tell me what kind of zoas you have (e.g., Rastas, Utter Chaos, WWC, etc.) and whether they're on a plug or a large rock, I can tell you exactly how I'd make the cuts and mount them.
