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FAQs about Stony Coral, Cnidarian Identification
5 Related FAQs:
Stony
Coral ID 1, Stony
Coral ID 2,
Stony Coral
ID 3, Stony Coral ID 4,
Stony Coral ID 6,
Stony Coral ID 7, Stony Coral ID 8,
Stony Coral ID 9, &
Cnidarian
Identification, Stony
FAQs 1, Stony FAQs 2, Foods/Feeding/Nutrition,
Disease/Health, Propagation, Coral
Compatibility, Stony Coral
Behavior,
Related Articles: Stony Corals,
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ID Assistance Needed for SPS
Encrusting Coral
Coral Id challenge - Need more info 10/9/07
<Hi there>
So... I am on a mission. <I can relate to that!> I want to determine
what an otherwise unknown species of coral in my SPS prop tank is.
Unfortunately, I don't have much
information to go on, and the photos I have taken are just about as
good. Sorry, I need a macro lens. <Very helpful, indeed.>
When I originally acquired this species, the person who sold it to me
broke a chunk off of a rock. He was trying very hard to keep it intact,
with little luck. It pretty much shattered. He told me he didn't know
what it was, but he was told that it was supposedly rare. <Okay>
I have scoured the Eric Borneman and Julian Sprung corals books. I have
come up with nothing. Same for the web. Well, not quite nothing, but
pretty darn close. Here's what I can tell you. This SPS coral is very
much like Montipora. <My first impression as well...second guess -
Porites.> So I am totally guessing it is some kind of Acroporidae.
<Unless it’s Porites (Poritidae), etc.> Of course, that doesn't mean
much, and even if I am right, we're talking about thousands of possible
species. <Yes, it's quite a daunting task. Distinguishing differences
between corals usually involves heavy duty magnification of the
skeleton/individual septa, not to mention some taxonomic nightmares.>
How is it similar? Well... it's an encrusting coral with extruding
polyps. The polyps are much denser and smaller than any Montipora I have
personal experience with. <Have seen such before – can vary greatly.> It
grows the same way as Montipora, but possibly quicker. <Given favorable
conditions, can grow very quickly.> It seems to layer itself. What does
this mean? I glued a small chunk to a frag disc. The way it is growing
now looks almost like the chunk melted. <Typical encrusting growth
pattern.> There is clear growth on the disk, but it is very thin. As
time goes by, it gets thicker. <Yep> This may also be a result of the
small polyp size. <Mmmm> I also believe that the coral being so brittle
is also a result of small polyp size. If you imagine the coral skeleton
generated by this thing, the more polyps, the more holes. The more
holes, the more porous it is. The more porous, the less structural
integrity there is. <Yes, makes for lightweight/porous structure.>
I took five nickel-sized chunks and glued them to a rock. The growth has
really been good. The pieces no longer look like they have jagged edges.
They have grown out so that the frags are all smooth on the rock and
they are quickly moving toward each other. <Good growth rate/favorable
conditions.> I really believe that within 30-60 days (sooner if I get my
calcium reactor up and cooking) all the pieces will have fused together.
<Happy corals!>
Okay, so earlier I said I had found "pretty darn close" to nothing in my
research. Here's what I found...I found a coral called "Leptoseris
mycetoseroides":
http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/201-300/Species%20pages/228.htm
<Don’t see the typical ridges/anatomy of this species in your photos.>
A lot of the descriptions, of course, are meaningless because they are
working on the macro, but I am working with the micro. <The great thing
about the Whelk/Aims site is that it usually includes a skeletal photo -
critical for identification.> Unless I let this thing grow out for
years, I might never see some of the described growth patterns. <Or they
might differ from what's shown due to variable such as current, light,
etc.> This photo, however, seems to be have some similarities to me:
http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/images/201-300/Large/228-05.jpg
<Note the way, though, that the corallites in the photo are aimed out
towards the perimeter.>
Now, I did say this seems to be an encrusting coral, and in this photo,
it looks like the coral is more of a plating variety. However, I have
several plating Montiporas that, when they run out of something to grow
on, they plate outward. Just a thought.
<Montipora often show a combination of growth forms. I have several
colonies of M. digitata that seem to grow/spread equally through
branching, as well as encrusting/covering the rockwork.>
I also saw a coral in the Borneman book.... Pavona clavus, on page 251.
The guy I got the coral from agreed that this has some striking
similarities.
<Other than growth pattern, I’m not really seeing it – again, need more
detailed photo. See this link for comparison: http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/201-300/Species%20pages/290.htm
>
OK, so let's talk about my crappy photos. <LOL They’re not that
bad...they show basic growth form - just need to see a lot more detail
to refine search.> In unknown-1sm.jpg you can see the rock with all the
frags glued to it. Not much good for anything but possibly the color and
shape of the coral. In unknown-2sm.jpg there are two things to look at
(you can see the larger colonies in the background) First, in the
foreground there is a rock with two additional frags glued to it. You
can see how the sides are all nice and rounded off now with new growth.
<Yes> You can also see a good example of what these critters look like
with full polyp extension. In the background is a ceramic frag disc that
I glued one little chunk to. You can clearly see the "melted" look of
this coral as it grows out onto the disk. <Typical> Nothing substantial,
but growth regardless.
<What I can see is consistent with a Montipora spp, but trying to
identify these specimens by photo alone is a fairly insurmountable task.
Here are several interesting/helpful links for coral identification:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-04/eb/index.php,
http://home2.pacific.net.ph/~sweetyummy42/CoralGenus.html, and
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/9/aafeature2#h4
Good luck! -Lynn>
Re: ID Assistance Needed for SPS
Encrusting Coral
Re: Coral Id challenge - 10/9/07
WWM (Lynn):
<Hi there, JW - Lynn here again.>
Forwarded your response to my original source of the frags, who
responded:
"Very interesting. One thing that I can recall of the coral is that the
polyp structure did not resemble any Monti or Porites that I had ever
seen. Monti and Porites are distinctively round where as the polyps on
the mystery coral are more like tentacles than polyps.
<Interesting. In cases like this, every clue helps.>
I almost can predict what you will say, especially after reading the
Borneman article, but just wanted to see if this rang any bells.
<Like Quasimodo? <G> Well, what comes to mind are the more tapered, or
needle-like, polyps of Pavona. I think your best bet at this point,
however, is to ask Eric Borneman. He has a forum over at Marine Depot
and is a heck of a nice guy. By the way, please let me know if/when you
Id this coral!>
JW
<LZ>
Re: Coral Id challenge, follow-up
10/9/07
Lynn,
<Hi JW!>
I have emailed Eric Borneman, but not posted on the forums. I will do so
tomorrow. <Sounds great> Thank you for all of your insights.
<You’re very welcome – good luck! -Lynn> |
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Coral
Identification 8/10/07
Dear WWM crew:
<Hi Julie, Mich here.>
Thank you for all the information your website provides.
<On behalf of Bob and the rest of the crew, you're welcome!>
I am new to saltwater, and have literally learned almost everything I
know from your site.
<Much of how I learned as well!>
However, I do have an identification question that I have been having
some trouble with. My LFS sells their live rock in a big tub with some
stray corals mixed in at the bottom at live rock prices. We picked up
some of these corals last weekend and to our amazement the corals still
had some live polyps growing on them. Please inform us of what types of
corals these are so that we can best care for them.
<Coral1 looks to be a of the Family Faviidae, genus Favia. Coral2 looks
to be of the family Dendrophylliidae, genus Turbinaria. These corals may
be helped by target feeding with finely chopped fresh/frozen foods like
mysis shrimp soaked in the vitamin supplement Selcon. Will take some
dedication to get these to possibly recover. If you're seriously
committed to rehabbing these corals you may want to employ the method
sent in by one our readers. Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dendroreprofaqs.htm
The query titled for feeding specifics.... Re: Feeding of Tubastrea..
Follow up to Baby Tubastrea Timeline 8/7/07 and the ones directly above
for some results. Quite impressive!>
Thanks again,
<Welcome! Mich>
Julie |
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Coral ID, Acroporids sans pix? 7/13/07
Hi Guys, another question from a beginner. After much internet searching I
am unable to find my little coral frag. The LFS guy I purchased the frag from
didn't know anything about it. Any way it looks like acropora except for its top
polyp. Instead of a polyp there is stringy hair algae type stuff growing out of
it. I was tempted to pull it off but thought better of it. After days of
observation it seems that this hair stuff is part of the feeding strategy of the
animal. During the day it gets filled with debris and micro bubbles and in the
morning its clean and floating.
The coral itself is thickening, its flesh is encrusting the plug its on so I
know the algae stuff isn't harming it. The corals top center seems hollow and
the clump of algae is growing rather long, it has grown now as long as the frag
itself. Its funny looking. Like a biker with long hair blowing in the wind.
If this seems like a unfamiliar coral to you I will send a pic.
<Bob, definitely need a pic. James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks All
Bob Carter
Id...Possibly
Merulina ampliata – 07/03/07
I can't find the following in any of my books, any ideas?
<Hi Brian, I actually replied to this last night on your web site after
listening to Bob's pod cast, which was quite good by the way! I tried to
post this response but the site only allowed 300 characters. So I sent
the second response.>
http://bp0.blogger.com/_Saa3csugMNM/RogAXQq9gGI/AAAAAAAAABk/mJwEj4Tqbzs/s1600-h/2007+Jul+02+004.JPG
<Greeting! Mich here from www.wetwebmedia.com> Anyone know what type of
coral this is?
<Hard to tell from just one picture. My best guess is Merulina ampliata>
I checked all my books and cannot identify it.
<I am glad to read that you have reference books! Good for you, and the
creatures for which you care!>
I was a bad reefkeeper and bought it without being sure what it was.
<Not a good practice or the actions of a conscientious aquarist. 40
lashes with a wet noodle for you!>
I highly recommend not doing this.
<Me too!>
Do your research ahead of time.
<Sage advise! Life to you! Michelle Lemech>
=====
Greeting! Mich here from www.wetwebmedia.com It is difficult to tell
from just one picture. My best guess is coral may be Merulina ampliata.
A little more info here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/merulinidae.htm Hope
that helps. Michelle Lemech
Id...Possibly Merulina ampliata
7/4/07
<Hi Brian, Mich here.>
Hmm...I looked at some pictures of the Merulina, looks different.
<Could be. Multiple growth forms are possible, often within the same
colony. Some pic's I thought resembled yours:
http://www.aquarium-design.fr/Img/ImgTelecharge/Pt/1192.jpg
http://www.meerwasser-lexikon.de/images/1375.jpg
http://www.mailordercorals.com/displayPict.asp?cartID=1154
http://www.reefaholics.org/Sale/reefaholicsimages/images/PIC00088.JPG
http://www.atlantisaquarium.net/images/merilina.jpg.JPG
The corallites in this species tend to form ridges and valleys which
radiate from the center, which is why I though this genus was a
possibility.>
I did stumble across Agaricia agaricites. Could that be it?
<Unlikely, Agaricia is an Atlantic species and generally not available
in the trade. Initially, I was think this might be part of the Family
Agaricidae, along the lines of a Pachyseris, but the ridges and valleys
tend to be more concentric. It is difficult to identify a coral by one
photo alone, and for some corals it is outright impossible without
skeletal examination. So perhaps it is a Merulina, but it may be
something else too.
Wish I could be more helpful,
Mich> |
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Rock Anemones and Breaking Rocks to Separate
Corals 4/21/07
Hi Guys,
<Hi Jim, Mich here.>
Here are two pictures that I would like your thoughts on. The first I
believe is a small group of rock anemones.
<Looks like a pest to me.>
They are about 1/2 inches high. The aquarium is about 4 months old. I
have two small groups of these, which don't seem to be doing much. Do
you think that I should go out and get a couple of peppermint shrimp and
try to stem it now or is it possible that they won't expand?
<Depends.>
I enjoy watching the micro fauna but don't want to risk all. I think of
them as a weed-just a thing that is not growing where someone wants it
but otherwise interesting.
<If it were me/mine I would remove from the system. If you allow to
remain in the system, I would watch carefully, and be prepared to take
action. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm >
Anyway the second picture there are two colonies of different creatures.
Both colonies are expanding.
<A good thing.>
I keep reading that they may beat on each other and kill one or both
colonies.
<Is possible.>
I wouldn't want that.
<Me neither.>
These just came on the live rock and started to grow.
<Ooo! A nice gift from the sea.>
I would have to break the rock to keep them apart. Is this a viable
solution or is there another?
<It looks like the rock could be easily removed from your system. If
this is so, I think I would remove and use a chisel or better yet a
Dremel, and remove and relocate one of these corals.
<As far as ID's go I think this is Galaxea fascicularis,
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/oculinidae.htm
though Turbinaria
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dendrophylliidae.htm
or Goniopora
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm
could be possibilities, it is difficult to tell from the photo.>
Thanks for your help as always. Lots of great reading!!
<Welcome! Glad you enjoy! -Mich>
Jim |
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