Different GSP's

[Jeremy Blaze]

I have 2 different types of "Green Star Polyps" Likely different species of coral alltoghter.

First, what I consider the common or standard GSP

Second, these are much smaller than the normal and do not have a contrasting colored center. Color is more 'neon' as well

Thoughts?

 

[Pea-brain]

I've noticed that your metallic greens have white centers. Some of mine do and some of mine don't. I've been wondering about this and my strangely short polyps. Alot of GSP I see has really long flowing polyps and mine are much shorter

Dan

Edit: Both types of my star polyps came on the same rock and I think are from the same mat, but the white ones are growing in one corner of the rock.....

 

[seapug]

There are different types of *real* GSP, but the second one you show above is an encrusting Gorgonian. Easily identified by the tan mat.

 

[kirkland]

I curious what the color range is on star polyps. I know that green is quite common, but do they come in other colors? We have GSP that have pink centers and are looking for more star polyps. I've seen GSP at our LFS that have different colored centers, but they are all green polyps. Are there other colored star polyps and if so, are they rare or just uncommon?

 

[Lotus99]

I have the second kind that you posted. From what I read, it's an encrusting gorgonian, as seapug says. I think they both have similar requirements. I think the second one might be less invasive, at least that's what I'm hoping.

It seems that online and in stores, they're both called green star polyps.

Here's a pic of mine, showing some of the encrusting part (the camera made it look yellow):

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

My second ones have a purple mat as well.

According to Borneman they are both Briarium.

 

[gh0st]

There is a bit of variation from what I've seen, mostly shades of green, but I've seen so me yellowish tinted, some slightly purple, and some pinkish star polyps. Lighting can play a big role here as well as brownish SP's will ussually start to green up under stronger lighting.

 

[Jeremy Blaze]

My pics were taken under 10K XM bulbs

 

[dendro982]

Very interesting, I have only usual GSP, but had seen in LFS (not for sale) the branching (or mounted on branching LR) GSP-looking coral with very long tentacles, may be twice than normal, and less dense polyps placement. Placed close to the top of the tank, MH lighting.

And it is of light neon-green color - the gorgonians shouldn't be green (or I never seen them).

One guy told, that he has several morphs of GSP - if anybody has them, post pictures too, please. Like the coral.

 

[seapug]

Gorgonians often develop a really soft green hue to them like the one shown above. As others have said, light and temperature can play a big factor, too. I have one colony of GSP that's at the bottom of my tank in a relatively shaded spot that has long, wavy, SUPER neon green polyps. I took a piece of it and put it high up in the center of the tank where it has stayed bright green but the polyps are about 1/3 the size. I suspect the one dendro saw was probably a recent import that came from deeper water. I have a feeling that after some time in the bright light the polyps will become much more dense and thicker.


I also have the white centered one shown above that has thicker stubby polyps. It was very green when I bought it but I've been having heat issues in my tank lately and have noticed that it has become much "browner" over the past couple months. I assume it will regain its green once the temps come down this fall.

From my experience, I think there are only a few species commonly available in the trade and what many people consider different kinds/color morphs are more a result of factors of lighting and what niche of the reef they were collected from.

 

[Drock169]

My LFS also sells White Star Polyps

 

[dendro982]

I had brown star polyps, white center, the tentacles are curved outside, but always thought that it is a different animal.

 

[TomDe]

I have complete pink star polyps growing with gsp on my overflow.

 

[Zucker26]

I have some tan star polyps that have absolutely no green in them whatsoever. They look like GSP and grow like GSP, but you can see the color for yourself. Sorry for the bad picture, I'm still learning how to take good shots of my tanks.