Blue Acropora off Cancun

[jda]

When we were in the water there last year, we saw all kinds of blue acropora in the shallow depths. Any idea what it is or if there is any in the hobby? If it looks this good in daylight, I am wondering how good it can look under reef lights. I would like some if it is available and legal.

My apologies if this is well know. I tried to google it for a good amount of time and found nothing.

 

[swk]

Any pics? Tough to make any kind of call without at least a picture

 

[jdm1114]

I would guess staghorn

 

[Softhammer]

There's only 3 types of Caribbean acropora and all are brown. You probably saw porites, they have that blue color.

 

[danfrith]

I agree, probly purple porites. The few acros of the Atlantic are pretty drab in color. Not sure the legality across the rest of the Caribbean but in Florida waters it is highly illegal.

 

[jda]

It was not porites... it was branching and looked like a stag.

Got a note that it was probably Acropora Cervicornis which can be bright blue but also critically endangered. Looks like I am not going to be getting any.

 

[zachfishman]

Going with P. branneri, check out this page:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/896402

I've never heard of Caribbean staghorn being blue, that would be quite newsworthy!