Anyone ever seen one of these?

[Reverend Reefer]

i think its a leather but someone in another forum told me it might be non-photosynthetic... its white. the "polyps" or cauliflower part is hard to touch.

main reason why i want an id is to do research. i can't seem to figure out what it wants. its always kinda floppy and im just wondering if it needs a prop up stick or something like what you do with plants you know?

also, not sure how much light it wants either. right now its on the bottom, slightly shaded. i just upgraded my lights to 4x54W T5s.

anyways, a simple ID would be nice.

 

[scuba guy ron]

Where did you purchase this from? or did it just start growing on a rock?

 

[SKremk]

I just responded to your other thread. It's a dendronephthea.

 

[mystery_reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15486791#post15486791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SKremk
I just responded to your other thread. It's a dendronephthea.

what is the more common name for this?
thanks.
oh and btw, nice find!

 

[kkdoughboy]

Pretty sure it wants more light that's why it's not happy and leaning over.

 

[Reverend Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15486791#post15486791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SKremk
I just responded to your other thread. It's a dendronephthea.

SKremk - thank you. it actually is a dendronephthea. after SKremk's post, i researched it and found very similar pics.

mystery_reef - one of the common names is cauliflower coral

kkdoughboy - it isn't slumped over because it wants more light, although this is what i thought too. turns out, it is a non-photosynthetic coral and they feed almost exclusively on phytoplankton.

sorry to say, i brought it back to LFS and traded it in for an easier to care for coral. apparently, dendronephthea are very hard to keep. they feed almost exclusively on phytoplankton. i really don't want to have to keep adding phyto to my display, for fear of contaminating my tank too much. plus raising live phyto is probably something left to more experienced reefers.

they also like to be hung upside down and are commonly found upside down in caves and low light. the white one i have (had) apparently is very sensitive to light. these corals have no protection from uv light.

anyways, sad to see it go but this is one of the mature moments in my reef keeping life where i just had to admit that im just not ready for this beautiful coral. i originally bought this coral from a LFS that had it in the "soft coral" section. it is a soft coral but i guess it was marketed that way since many of us have the general impression that soft corals are easy beginner corals. buyer beware!

 

[scuba guy ron]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15494130#post15494130 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reverend Reefer
SKremk - thank you. it actually is a dendronephthea. after SKremk's post, i researched it and found very similar pics.

mystery_reef - one of the common names is cauliflower coral

kkdoughboy - it isn't slumped over because it wants more light, although this is what i thought too. turns out, it is a non-photosynthetic coral and they feed almost exclusively on phytoplankton.

sorry to say, i brought it back to LFS and traded it in for an easier to care for coral. apparently, dendronephthea are very hard to keep. they feed almost exclusively on phytoplankton. i really don't want to have to keep adding phyto to my display, for fear of contaminating my tank too much. plus raising live phyto is probably something left to more experienced reefers.

they also like to be hung upside down and are commonly found upside down in caves and low light. the white one i have (had) apparently is very sensitive to light. these corals have no protection from uv light.

anyways, sad to see it go but this is one of the mature moments in my reef keeping life where i just had to admit that im just not ready for this beautiful coral. i originally bought this coral from a LFS that had it in the "soft coral" section. it is a soft coral but i guess it was marketed that way since many of us have the general impression that soft corals are easy beginner corals. buyer beware!

Very good. Very Very honorable and well put. many would not go this route. Great to see a responsible reefkeeper!

 

[Kreeger1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15493262#post15493262 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kkdoughboy
Pretty sure it wants more light that's why it's not happy and leaning over.

\

Absolutely wrong, They need no light. Nonphoto coral

 

[ukbrian]

thanks for the info i shall have to keep away from these cauliflower corals i did have one a few years ago and it lasted a few months then whent smaller a smaller vanished, then like a fool got tempted again, i dont know why aq shops sell them.