Exotic Softies!

[David Jr.]

Okay, I'm in need of a new softie. Show me the most exotic, unusual, and unique soft coral species that you know of!

 

[Drock169]

I personally like cespitularia's.

 

[bph0013]

Here's my aquacultured Pink Cespitularia from my personal tank

We aquaculture both the pink and Metallic Blue Cespitularia at work. Palau Green Nepthea is also a very nice looking softy.

 

[saltwaterpimp]

Drock169 did you use Flash on the 2nd pic ? mine coral does that, the flash picks up the pigments in the tissue.Or are they sparkly like that all the time ?
I hope everyone joins in on sharing pics here, Lets share people =)

 

[David Jr.]

Dang saltwaterpimp, thats an awesome assortment. What kind of light do you have on that in the full tank shot? How different from xenia are cespitularia? I guess I should list the coral that I already have:

Pulsing Xenia
Zoanthids (Green/Orange)
Short Tentacle Plate Coral
Scroll Coral
Sun coral

So obviously I still have room in a Biocube 29!

 

[saltwaterpimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15675687#post15675687 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by David Jr.
Dang saltwaterpimp, thats an awesome assortment. What kind of light do you have on that in the full tank shot? How different from xenia are cespitularia? I guess I should list the coral that I already have:

Pulsing Xenia
Zoanthids (Green/Orange)
Short Tentacle Plate Coral
Scroll Coral
Sun coral

So obviously I still have room in a Biocube 29!

Thanks, I have a 150 watt 14k, no suplemental

 

[humanremainz]

you may want to check out Green Clavalaria (green clove polyps)
Another cool 1 id Anthillia glauca( giant waving hand xenia)
Green polyp toadstools are always cool
check them out you might like what you see

 

[bph0013]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15675648#post15675648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by saltwaterpimp
Drock169 did you use Flash on the 2nd pic ? mine coral does that, the flash picks up the pigments in the tissue.Or are they sparkly like that all the time ?
I hope everyone joins in on sharing pics here, Lets share people =)

That species of Cespitularia has what is called "calcareous sclerites" in their tissue that give it that glitter/sparkling effect.

 

[humanremainz]

actually all Cespitularia have Calcareous Sclerites in there tissue

 

[Drock169]

Actually from an article I read, there are a few species of Cespitularia that the sclerites are absent in. The first pic of mine is the pink cespitularia.The second pic is with a flash of the blue variety, the picture is 2 years old though. In the current tank its in, I have one light positioned so that it sparkles somewhat, also the tank is positioned to receive sunlight, then it really sparkles.

Saltwaterpimp, is that a different variety of Cespitularia in your first pic? I had always seen pictures of something like that and just thought that that was Anthelia.

 

[humanremainz]

soft corals in the Order Alcyonacea have sclerites , and Cespitualria belongs in the Xeniidae family that is in the Alcyonacea order.
saltwaterpimp thats a nice little colony of blue clove polyps you have there......

 

[saltwaterpimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15679491#post15679491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Drock169
Actually from an article I read, there are a few species of Cespitularia that the sclerites are absent in. The first pic of mine is the pink cespitularia.The second pic is with a flash of the blue variety, the picture is 2 years old though. In the current tank its in, I have one light positioned so that it sparkles somewhat, also the tank is positioned to receive sunlight, then it really sparkles.

Saltwaterpimp, is that a different variety of Cespitularia in your first pic? I had always seen pictures of something like that and just thought that that was Anthelia.

No, I call them Blue cloves because im not sure of the name yet. The coral is still in need of revision, Sansiba,cervera,stereosoma, Are all names that have been brought up,My coral has no sclerites,I am hoping to have a id very soon.

humanremainz , That picture was taken a month or so ago, sice then i have had to remove Most of the corals,The Cloves spawn every 30 days, some months more. They are brooders, im not sure on numbers yet but i bet i have 90% settlement rate, its amazing how many recruits i find after each spawn.

Cory:

 

[humanremainz]

Sansibia is also a Xeniidae if i remember right , it looks like a very fragile Anthillia, It's almost frilly looking for a lack of a better description. I thought the blue cloves were Clavularia at least that's what they look like but i don't know if it's been re classified or not.

 

[saltwaterpimp]

Clavularia has sclerites, mine don't . Unless the bleach degrated the sclerites.And there is no way of telling just by looks alone, there are so many missidentified corals out there because people name them on looks..

Cory:

 

[Lotus99]

I just got some really nice tubipora from Vivid Aquariums. They're bright white with a green stripe on them. They look a lot better in person than the pic here: http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Exp...al And Invertebrates:Soft Corals&SortBy=Price

I classify tubipora more as soft corals than LPS.

I also just got some nice blue xenia.

I got some pulsing sinularia a while back. It's interesting, but the pulsing isn't that exciting. Perhaps I'm just not giving it what it needs to pulse more consistently.

 

[blide]

Pulsing Sinularia's are not easy to find IMO...

 

[bizzleb01]

Drock what's the difference of your first pic and xenia?

 

[geoxman]

Sarcothelia edmondsoni

 

[saltwaterpimp]

Sarcothelia edmondsoni was also brought up in the ID, As colection of this coral is illeagl its not liklely, But still possable.

Does any one here have a Pulsing Sinularia?,I never seen one in person. Do they really pulse, or is it like athelia feeds ?

 

[gh0st]

I've got a Pulsing Sinularia. They do pulse, but as the polyps are pretty small it is pretty subtle and more slow and random than most Xenia.

Still pretty cool though, and def. hard to find.