Difference in Coral Question

[Bulldog71]

Hi,

What is the difference between star polyps and Pipe organ coral?

I have some green star polyps, but when they are closed they have purple tubes attached to the purple mat. But i know they are star polyps because i saw the coral i fragged it off of.

I was told that pipe organ corals are the ones with purple tubes/stalks. Can any one confirm if star polyps can also have the purple tubes/stalks?

Thanks.

 

[BillNye]

The base of my GSP has that purple 'mat' you're talking bout. When my GSP isn't out, I'd describe it as more of a 'goosebumps' look than tubes. I've had both and notice that my GSP, when out, look like grass of the ocean, rather than the 'flower' look that pipe organs give off.

 

[A sea K]

star polyps are a fully soft coral and can have purple base/stalks, they grow from an encrusting matt of soft tissue. A pipe organ has a hard calcium coral base from which the polyps extend, even though they have a hard stony base from which they grow they are not technically classified as a true stony or lps coral.

 

[Diverjohn]

+1 with A sea K

 

[Bulldog71]

Thanks guys. When mine are fully open they look like waving grass.