combining supermans?

[Jovreefer]

I've got 2 types... the real danae and the type tyree has... Can they be glue'd next to each other on the same rock without fighting? Any ideas?

I think it would be neat to see which grow's faster and if they grow into each other, but I dont want to lose the colonies if they will war with each other.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

They will most likely not attack each other but the competition for space will be fierce once they start growing into each other. Montis are peaceful corals and lack the ability to pack a powerful sting. Do you have any pictures? What's the difference? Tyree says on his site that his is a monasteriata, the "true" type should be the danae, is that correct?

 

[MiddletonMark]

If they're different species, I would expect them to compete - and one to win.

I would space them apart, to avoid such issues.

 

[Jovreefer]

Yea one is a monasteriata and one is a danae, both Montipora though so isnt that same species...just different sub-species?

 

[MiddletonMark]

It would Family Acroporidae, Genus Montipora, species danae/digitata/capricornis/etc. I think your assumption is common, though.

But they are all different species - so would likely compete IMO.

I dunno, but beyond a few exceptions - I've known corals that appear to be the same species [Acropora millepora] to compete. While a few do `grow together' without issue - IMO chances are not high.

Just my take, others might say different, and are welcome to

 

[Unarce]

They're the same. Steve acquired it from Hugo. Hugo acquired it from Tubs. Steve just ID'd it as the monasteriata. As long as you're sure you have the right lineage of each piece, than they're likely the same. As mild as Montipora are, you can still burn them if one turns out to be a different but similar clone from another specimen.

I wouldn't try it if you have the aquacultured, Tongan version that some refer to as the small-polyped superman. Some people often confuse the superman with the M. orientalis, too.

HTH

 

[Jovreefer]

I'm told the one is from tubs and the other is from someone who got it from someone who got it from tyree (wow...that could get confusing if it went on to a few more people!)

Thats interesting though...tyree's is from tubs? hmm... I think the person who sold me the tyree one was mis-informed then...that one is alot smoother than the tub's one I have.

I guess I wont try putting them next to each other then... I just thought it would be neat to see the differences in growth and compition for space... oh well thanks guys.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

There are different types of "superman montis" in the trade. Anything blue with red polyps will be dubbed and sold as a superman. I think the real superman has almost no noduling or tubercules on it, it's a danae with very a smooth encrusting growth (of course that varies depending on what it grows on). If I'm mistaken, please correct me.

Why don't you post pictures of the two and perhaps it would be easier to make a recommendation?

Mmm if you want to risk damaging your investment (and I'm sure it was one!) you can definitely try, who knows, you might come up with the next most popular color morph if something weird happens!

 

[MiddletonMark]

Be sure to QT all new Montipora.

I lost my `orientalis' to the nudis. IME, encrusting types were a favored food.

 

[GreshamH]

Encrusters do seem to be the hardest hit. I was hoping they'd just nail my digis

 

[fijiblue]

IMHO, I question whether superman is really a Danae at all? The polyp structure is way different that what is classified as a Danae. Superman and similar montis have 10 "fingers" on each polyp where actual Danae has 12. It is so hard to tell where exactly these species fall into. As far as combining go, I'd say go for it and see what happens. Just make sure you have a back up frag.

 

[Jovreefer]

LOL ... ok since it seems aparent I need to post pics... although they are old pics I've posted before. & they really did not cost me much at all... one trade and one favor.

This is the smooth one

Here's the tub's

 

[fijiblue]

Jovreefer- Are you able to count the fingers on the polyps? The two you show are exactly the same species. Have you ever seen a true Danae with superman colors?

 

[51504reef]

Monti.

Monti.

Jov.-How big is that Superman of yours? Looks great

 

[Jovreefer]

The little one in the top pic is not the same as the other, I know my photo skills are not superior sorry Its a very smooth surface does not have the nodules like the second one and the polyps are different, the fingers are thinner ... if that makes sense. I can try to count the fingers tonight and update

51504reef- that second one is pretty much the same size as the pic shows on my computer.

 

[AWExotics]

I thought Hugo's original "superman" was his own and not one from Tub's? I could be mistaken.

This is an interesting thread though. I thought it out for a while and have decided to name my colony "Mile High Monti" Mainly because mine was wild collect about 3 years ago and it's lineage is most likely different than the Tubs's or Tyree corals. Interestingly enough. The corals all look very very similiar if not the same.

On a different not, the captive grown parts of the coral are far less knobby than the old parts of it grown in the ocean. However, this seems to be a temporary thing. The coral continues to develop the knobs over time.


I have been comboing alot of my Encrusting Monti's. I think they look great and if there is a really bad "War" when they come in contact, it is not hard to split the rock. I placed 2 "Mile High Monti" frags, one "Kryptonite monti" (M verracosa green with purple polys), one "Storm Cloud Monti" (similiar to a M caliculata) and a red/orange M. nodosa, all on the same rock.. All corals are within an inch of another different species. I will post pics, when it is more grown out, with a mods permission of course.

I do this alot with plating Capricornis-like Monti's. usually they whirl around each other but occasionally one starts to over grow another.

I think combo rocks are awesome and the contrast looks great.

Todd

 

[MCsaxmaster]

Unless two corals are genetically identical (from the same parent colony) they will compete and usually one will dominate the other. This is true even in the same species. Unless you get two frags of the very same coral (not the same "type" i.e. 'they're both "danai"') they will compete with each other. I took some great shots of this sort of interaction between Diploastrea strigosa in the Carribean a couple months ago, but the photos didn't turn out, otherwise I'd give a visual. All corals compete and all have the capacity to cause each other harm, even within the same species, period.

cj

 

[AWExotics]

/\