The coral refered to as a superman cyphastrea is a meteor shower.It came from my mother colony that I got from ming at Atlantis about 4 years ago.I have 6 types of Cyphastrea and have never seen or heard of a superman morph of it.This is one of my fave family of corals in the ocean,they have really nice colors and are usually really easy to keep.Also they are one of the fastest growing corals that I have ever owned.I have only found one species that did not fare well and grow like a weed in aquariums.It was a red based with blue polyps Cyphastrea Ocelina and I got it about 2 years ago.I do not remember where I got it from,somewhere off the net.I do not know why it did not prosper compared to its other family members?It has struggled for a long time and as I lookes at it today it looks like it may be on it's last leg?
As for the Cyphastrea species that are seen in the aquarium trade there is not a ton to speak of I am in no way the authority on them but I can at least list the ones I have.
Cyphastrea Ocellina Atlantis original,usally has a darker forest green color with brick red polyps that have a yellow spot in the center of it.This one is a fast grower for sure!
Cyphastrea Ocellina Meteor shower,This species has a light mint/teal green base
with light pink to light red polyps,this one also grows VERY fast.This is the one I see getting called superman once and a while?
Minefield Cypastrea Sp.This one has been identified as C. Macrothalmus(spelling?).This one has a baby blue base once it gets to about 1 inch or bigger in size.The polyps are a bright emerald green color.This is yet another of these that grows very rapidly.Imo this one looks acts and grows the same as the C. Ocellinas.
Cypastria Japonica purple and green eyes,as the name desribes this coral has a purple base(sometimes has a blue tint)and bright green polyps.This is a fast grower also.This one looks alot like the above mentioned species but the polyps are not as big and pronounced as the above,and the polyps are spaced further apart.
Cyphastria Decadia red base with pink red polyps .This is one of the more common but also cooler species of Cyphastria that gets imported once and a while.This species grows like a Acropora as it grows into small branching colonies.This species comes in as Maricultered colonys that do great in captivity.
Cyphastrea Ocellina red with blue polyps.This is the only species of Cyphastrea that I have not had any luck with.It looks like a C Ocellina but has never really done well.It seems to grow really slow if any at all.I split a frags cost with a buddy and we grew it out and split it,it took 5 or 6 months to get it big enough to cut,Since then mine has actually started to have some tissue recession?Has anyone else had this one,and had any luck with it?
I have seen a couple of other species that I need to get to add to my colloction,I love that ppe one!And the red on red I want a frag of to!
Thanks Scott T
