does this look like Acanthastrea maxima
- Thread starter CamBarr
- Start date
RandyO
Active member
What's the diameter of the polyps when closed? Acanthastrea maxima have corallites with 50 mm diameter, or about 2 inches closed. When fully open they can expand to 4 inches.
Your coral looks like the polyps are much smaller. Most likely a lord.
Because Maxima's are only found in Oman waters, and it's not a collection area, the chances of seeing one in captivity are pretty rare.
I think those pics were posted in this forum about a year ago, with the same discussion. You might be able to find that thread.
Your coral looks like the polyps are much smaller. Most likely a lord.
Because Maxima's are only found in Oman waters, and it's not a collection area, the chances of seeing one in captivity are pretty rare.
I think those pics were posted in this forum about a year ago, with the same discussion. You might be able to find that thread.
xdusty6920
New member
im not 100% here. it could be a a ton of things. im kinda leaning away from maxima for several reasons. maxima are only found in Omani waters and its illegal to take or collect anything of any sort from that area. also from what ive read and seen, they tend to be rather large polyps (a fair amount larger then the pic above) and they are typically very natural bland colors (which yours is obviously not).
they look pretty lordish to me. ive got several "greenies" and they all have super slow growth (usually a polyp a year if that). and that sounds like what your describing in its growth rate.
either way its deffinently a nice piece and very unique. (ive got first dibs on a frag lol)
they look pretty lordish to me. ive got several "greenies" and they all have super slow growth (usually a polyp a year if that). and that sounds like what your describing in its growth rate.
either way its deffinently a nice piece and very unique. (ive got first dibs on a frag lol)
xdusty6920
New member
lol randy you type faster then i can lol!
CamBarr
New member
The polyps are actually quite big bigger then a lord for sure if I could guess I would say 2" closed and I have seen them go to maybe 3-4" when fully opened??? I actually posed this one a year ago and fell short of an id the colony originally came as 4 mouth piece but I split it with a friend of mine because we both found this in LA at the same time unfortunately his died I believe??? I got this coral from SDC also when looking at skeletal structure it not a lobo it has two distinct polyps with 2 mouths.
xdusty6920
New member
sounds good. if it is indeed something other then a lord, i'd like to help you get a proper id on it. id like to see some comparision shots and some completely and fully expanded shots of you can.
mschriskim
New member
CamBarr, it still looks like Acan Lord to me.
When closed it should be around 2" looks like bigger polyp sized Acan Lord some of my Acan lord as big as around 1.5" when they are fully extended but corallites are around 1"
Acan Maxima by the book it should be 2x size of bigger polyp of Acan Lord.
It is still a darn nice Acan Lord you have and some Acan Lord grow slow than others that's the reason about slow growth on that Acan frag you have.
When closed it should be around 2" looks like bigger polyp sized Acan Lord some of my Acan lord as big as around 1.5" when they are fully extended but corallites are around 1"
Acan Maxima by the book it should be 2x size of bigger polyp of Acan Lord.
It is still a darn nice Acan Lord you have and some Acan Lord grow slow than others that's the reason about slow growth on that Acan frag you have.
CamBarr
New member
yea the polyps are huge the were closed up a bit because i moved them to the front of the tank but the polyps are as you can see from the ruler in the back 2-2 1/2 inches and it was closing????
p.s. the other lord to the left is a super slow grower i have had that single polyp for over a year
p.s. the other lord to the left is a super slow grower i have had that single polyp for over a year
coralcommuter
New member
cool piece
cool piece
Cam that is a really nice piece. Did Jason get that other piece by any chance? Hope things are going good for you.
- B
cool piece
Cam that is a really nice piece. Did Jason get that other piece by any chance? Hope things are going good for you.
- B
xdusty6920
New member
yeah i definently think its a lord now. some lords are ALOT bigger then others. ive got several specimen that are in the 2-3" range. maybe its a type of sub lord or something. remember, not long ago micros were considered lords, just tiny polyped lords. now we know better and its recieved its own name. this may eventually become the case with some of these super sized lords.
