Acan pic's, id's, and info.

[TropTrea]

In the last few years ACAN's have shown up on the market with many varieties and are probably now rivaling the zoo's in the number of varieties out there. Most of them are getting names which are descriptive to the person that named them but do not give the next person any idea what they really look like.

So I decided to start this thread which hopefully will grow rapidly. What I'm asking people to do is post here a picture of your Acan's and tell us what that variety is called in your part of the world. If you ran into some unique quality of the Acan please tell us like this variety needs more light than than other varieties, or this variety likes very limited light. This is a fast grower that doubled in size in only a month, or this one is growing really slow compared to my others.

Presently several LFS are selling ACAN's at prices from $6.00 to $100.00 per polyp. None look like some of the fantastic pictures I see on the web of ACAN's with most looking brown to tan in color. While they have fancy names on them I believe the lack of color is combination of poor lighting and being freshly shipped. But when I look at a brown Acan that claims to be a Japanese Red Acan or a Mustard Gas Acan I want to have some idea on what it will look like when it does color up. I'm sure many other feel the same.

Thanks for participating.

 

[rsav]

A lot of the cool acans I have purchased did not have a name. I think most names are invented by the people selling them online. What I have noticed lately is that there are tons of acans being called "rainbow" because it is a trendy word or something. The term "Rainbow Acan" seems to be worn out if you know what I mean.


This is my favorite. I picked it up at a wholesaler and it didnt have a name. I like to call it "Midnight Zebra"

 

[TropTrea]

I like that three tone effect blue, white, and maroon. Unfortunatly my tank has way to much green in it. I'm hoping to find some Acans that will brighten things up.

thanks for staring thing off "rsav"

 

[snorvich]

A lot of the cool acans I have purchased did not have a name. I think most names are invented by the people selling them online. What I have noticed lately is that there are tons of acans being called "rainbow" because it is a trendy word or something. The term "Rainbow Acan" seems to be worn out if you know what I mean.


This is my favorite. I picked it up at a wholesaler and it didnt have a name. I like to call it "Midnight Zebra"

I ignore designer names as they are meaningless except to the seller trying to maximize his selling price. Midnight Zebra is cool!

 

[rsav]

I ignore designer names as they are meaningless except to the seller trying to maximize his selling price.

In my opinion the best thing to do is just look at the picture and decide if it is what you like. Completely ignore the name unless you have seen the same piece or frags of it in person from another hobbyist.

It is important to be aware that sometimes online sellers will turn the actinic very high to make the colors look better than in reality. If in doubt ask the seller to take a photo with white only or post a link in the LPS section for others' opinion on coloration.

It is also important to notice if the acan is closed and not opened. Closed acans can look more colorful and totally different than when open.

I have bought online and have been taught by others on these pointers.

 

[TropTrea]

My issue is that several local stores have at least a dozen different types in stock. When I look at them they all basicly look brown or tan. The reason being that they are simply under 10,000K lighting that is not realy very intense. So the only thing I have to go on is what they call it and what is expected for an Acan of that name.

I also know that when I had my store roughly 8 years ago I did import some corals. Generaly they all arrived brown and basicly sick looking. It was only after some time under strong atinic lighting that there colors started to truely show up.

Acans t that time were rare and unbeievable expensive when they did show up. Today Im seeing some fantastic varieties. But when your talking $6.00 to $100 for a polyp without knowing what it look like after properly cared for I realy hesitate to spend that much. To me no coral is worth $100 per polyp amd on the other end of the spectrum is the $6.00 polyp even worth taking a chance with?

 

[Thizzelle686]

Does anyone know the name of the acan that has a light baby blue on the outside and a striking deep red on the inside?

 

[hermesfansf]

What do u call this acan?