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FAQs about Soft Corals of the Family Nephtheidae 2 Related Articles: Soft Corals of the Family
Nephtheidae, The Soft Corals of the
genus Dendronephthya, Soft Corals, Order Alcyonacea
Related FAQs: Nephtheids 1,
Neptheid Identification,
Nephtheid Behavior, Nephtheid Compatibility,
Nephtheid Selection,
Nephtheid Systems, Nephtheid Feeding,
Nephtheid Disease,
Nephtheid Reproduction/Propagation, Soft Coral Propagation,
Alcyoniids, Dendronephthya,
Paralcyoniids, Nidaliids,
Xeniids,
Soft
Corals/Order Alcyonacea |
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Scleronepthyas
Hi Bob,
<Omar>
Here is the photo as promised. Not too clear I'm afraid, the camera does not have high zoom.
<It's a nice pic nonetheless>
As you can see the 2 "youngest" corals are on the rock next to the parent, the first daughter colony is on the rock behind, kinda hard to distinguish form the parent, but it too is now starting to branch.
The 2 younger ones are still a single branch.
<I see>
any further advice would be welcome, most people I tell just try to put me off buying a
dendro, even saying that it's impossible that I could have reproduced a
sclero! its amazing how people have no trust. same thing used to happen when
I was breeding parrots, so I guess I'm kinda used to the pettiness of
hobbyists
Regards
Omar
<"Nothing succeeds like success"... there have been studies, folks keeping
Dendronephthya alive for a time... Charlie Delbeek at the Waikiki Aquarium wrote re his/their experiences... but can't remember which of the hobby mag.s carried the popular write up re... I would try a computer search bibliography at a large library on the topic. Bob Fenner> |
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Some questions on Chili Cactus corals 2/10/06
Hello Bob.
<James>
I have been reading Anthony Calfo's book on coral propagation and your joint
venture on Reef Inverts as I now have quite and assortment of 'friends' growing
from my live rock. While I am enjoying the proliferation of sponges, horseshoe
worms, zoos, mushrooms and many other 'unknowns as of yet' I have been tending to
my growing frogspawn colonies and will soon have to consider pruning them. This
backdrop is just to let you know that the tank is doing very well.
<Good to hear/read>
So, the 55 gallon tank is doing well (only set up since this summer). However, I
have had my eye on the Chili Cactus coral as a filter feeder.
<Mmm, not easily kept...>
I have a relatively shady spot with good turbulent flow near but not direct to
the 260 watts of PC lighting on the tank (everything is going to be moved to the
75 gallon Megaflow tank since the wooden stand is more stable than the iron one
that came with the 55 within a period of time). In the meantime I have
discovered I like the chili cactus corals and from what I have read so far they
seem an easier soft coral to care for.
<... are we talking Nephthyigorgia sp., Scleronephthyas? Some folks have stated
the former are "easy"... not IMO/E>
However, the specimens I have seen at the LFS's have been... well, less than
optimal and they say the mortality rate is high.
<This has been my experience... in seeing, handling many specimens>
I attribute this to the lighting and lack of decent current in the tank they
keep these particular specimens in (from my reading not experience). What should
I be looking for with this species in particular?
<Size, conformity, consistency in color, shape... length of time on hand (a
couple weeks or so ideally)>
I notice at the store they are droopy and often flopped over however, when the
lights were shut for 10-15 minutes the polyps did extend. As I have had much
success with the other corals I 'became steward of through natural growth' I
feel they might benefit in several areas of my tank. The fish in the tank are
messy feeders and I feed more than I should as not everyone gets to eat if I
don't. Fish are the Royal Gramma, Foxface, Flame Angel and Firefish with a
cleaner shrimp. May I have your thoughts on the matter please?
Thank you,
James Zimmer
<I would steer clear here... For your size, type system... best to avoid. Larger
systems with refugiums... I'd try other families of cnidarians. Bob Fenner>
Re: Some questions on Chili Cactus corals - 2/11/2006
Thank you Bob.
<Welcome James>
Not what I was hoping to hear but I would rather the odds were in my favor.
Another issue becomes which is it of the species you listed... this I am not
sure. Almost always; fish and corals are labeled by common name at nearly every
fish store I go to. I ask for specifics (where does the live rock come from,
species of fish coral and location they came from) but you know how it is. The
knowledge of the chili corals at this LFS were less than adequate. A shame
really they are a handsome specimen.
<Gorgeous animals>
Anyway, the 75 is next to go up and I am still throwing around the ideas of a
canister filter which was a strong recommendation from a former LFS
owner/technician/system builder (he said he would show me how to plumb and
adjust it) and a Reverse Daylight Photosynthesis refugium (beneath) in the
stand. I am thinking a 30 gallon tank should fit and standard lights on at night
should be adequate without tipping the electrical side of the equation with too
much draw and outlets used.
<Some of these (Eheim is best) are very low electrical draws. Check the
amperage/wattage...>
I am leaning towards the RDP so I can have more water capacity and a safe place
for pods/planktons to thrive.
<Good>
I have a 24 nanocube as a replacement for the 5 gallon tank with only sand and
rock and the transported star polyps (the flame angel finally discovered they
were tasty but I saved them): POD Palace!!! =)
What size tank/system is appropriate for these chili corals?
<Bigger...>
When are you going to be in this neck of the woods again? <NJ>
<Don't know... maybe my Mum-in-laws bday later August...>
Thank you.
James Zimmer
<Again, welcome. Bob Fenner>
Coral (mis)ID 1/25/06
Hello WWM crew, <Hello Rick>
I have a couple of photos of an unknown coral that I took yesterday at
the
LFS. Can anyone tell me what this is & how it would need to be cared
for.
The LFS told me that it was an Orange Chili coral, does this sound
right??
<Wish the picture had more detail, possibly top view. To me it looks
like a cauliflower/colt coral of the genus Cladiella which usually have
shorter fingers. James (Salty Dog)><<What? Is a Nephtheid. Please see
here:
http://www.google.com/custom?q=chili+soft+coral+genus&sitesearch=wetwebmedia.com
RMF>>
Cheers!
Rick Waibel Jr. |
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