Dendrophyllia or Balanophyllia?

[stunreefer]

Like the title says... these remind me of the larger branching Dendrophyllia colonies a couple of you guys got not long ago:

These are from Aussie land, and each little "colony" has obviously been epoxied to the rock they're on. The wholesaler the retailer bought them from had them labeled as "balanos", I'm not convinced... honestly the little colony in the upper right look like balanos based on coralite shape and the little colony in the center looks like those dendros I mentioned before...

Thoughts?

 

[Aquabacs]

Quick, pick it up Austin...it is a LE Tyree God of Fire Tubastrea...sorry had to say it

Do you have any more pictures? I will say Balanophyllia, but it could be wrong. The more variations that hit our shore it becomes ever so difficult to ID (everything seems to be coming in as Firecracker coral these days). If we really want to get to the bottom of what it exactly is, we would need to have a polyp bleached and properly ID'ed.

Mike

 

[stunreefer]

Quick, pick it up Austin...it is a LE Tyree God of Fire Tubastrea...

:lol:

LMAO!!!

Do you have any more pictures? I will say Balanophyllia, but it could be wrong. The more variations that hit our shore it becomes ever so difficult to ID (everything seems to be coming in as Firecracker coral these days). If we really want to get to the bottom of what it exactly is, we would need to have a polyp bleached and properly ID'ed.

No other pics of that one Mike, it's still at the retailers on hold for me until this weekend. I used to work for them, so the price is very fair

I agree with your notions on IDing the critter, I mean, there some that are just so, so close! I always love the threads where somebody posts something and people are absolutely convinved that it's one or the other...

The more I look at the pic the more I think the right and center "colonies" are different. Good thing is at least I know how to care for them, so who really cares what they are

 

[PSam]

Very cool whatever they are. Please post up once the polyps are expanded

 

[Aquabacs]

Honestly, as long is it is a healthy non-photosynthetic coral, that's all that really counts and if the price is good, pick it up. To many people get wrapped around this fancy naming of corals color combination and forget what the hobby is all about.

 

[stunreefer]

Agreed Mike I can spot a bit of recession in the pic, and knowing the reatiler (since I'm not there anymore) I don't doubt this coral hasn't been fed much, if at all. Assuming it looks good this weekend I think she'll come home with me

Of course, pics will follow.

 

[Timeless1483]

They are really nice. I would love to get some of those. I think they are Dendro, but you never know. I would grab them for sure. NPS is the way to go.

 

[oldreefer76]

The lighter color group of 3 look like Balano and the rest Dendro either way nice find

 

[Balanophyllia]

I agree with oldreefer76 the 2 on the right look like balanos but the light one for sure is a balano it's easier id'ing when they're closed up the balanos are more of an oval shape and dendros are more of a circle I have both and I'll post pics as soon as I can for ya. And by the way balanos like meatier food than the dendros mine like chopped silver sides, chopped krill, squid, and mysis.

 

[Balanophyllia]

here ya go...
balanos..




densros (just ate)


hope these help.

 

[Balanophyllia]

Dendros for the 4th pic sorry I was half sleep.