Has anyone here seen black dendros?

[MarineSniper]

In my never ending search for the rare, I've come across what appears to be a strain of "branching dendro" (cladopsammia gracilis) sporting a black skeleton with black polyps that have a green edge on them. My first assumption was that it was simply a freakishly large colony of black suns, even though the seller; whom I trust and who definitely knows his corals, assured me they were not. They are definitely not suns and definitely look to be a strain of cladopsammia. My image hosting site is gone so I need to find another, so I can post pics but; in the interim: Has anyone seen or heard of these or anything like them?

 

[Allmost]

my LFS got it in from aussie this week, I thought they were black sun which I have never had good luck with.

 

[stunreefer]

I've only seen Cladopsammia gracilis in orange and pinkish colors before... am certainly interested to know more!

Based on your description I would guess Tubastrea micrantha. They're generally all more of a "branching" colony structure, but based on flow can vary greatly regarding shape, along with coloration IME.

 

[ssminnow81]

I came on r.c. Today to ask the same question. A seller by me swears there black dendros.
Very big polyps like reg fathead dendros but I can't find any info on them.

 

[MarineSniper]

Definitely not micrantha

Same seller; I'm sure, ssminnow. He's a very straight seller and I've purchased several items, including a few rhizos from him. Mine will be here Tuesday, I'll find a new image hosting site and post some pics. I tried to buy them all but he wouldn't let me!

 

[organism]

Interesting, looking forward to seeing how this one pans out, sure would be cool...

 

[MarineSniper]

As always, everything arrived in great shape, packaged like a tank. Definitely a strain of cladopsammia gracilis aka branching dendros. As with all of that species, they've yet to open but I've seen polyp movement at the mouths. Can't wait to see them opened up, they're a green and black mix, it appears


screenshot studio

Also grabbed a colony of fathead dendros. Amazing size on these heads, several the size of a quarter! Incredibly healthy and fully colored polyps vs the translucent many have

Arrival

small screenshot studio

15 minutes after acclimation



A few hours later and all polyps open to some extent

image hosting imageshack

 

[ssminnow81]

You don't think there just black sun coral?

 

[MarineSniper]

I'm not a biologist, I can only tell you from experience that the skeletal makeup is identical to cladopsammia gracilis, as is the reaction to a new tank. Regular dendros are completely open and feeding, threse are still closed, with just a little polyp movement. I'll know better once the polyps are open but for now, it still walks like a duck

 

[organism]

What is the polyp size on the black dendros? I have some black/green sun corals that look really similar...

 

[MarineSniper]

No real polyp extension yet. Just a little of the tips showing, occasionally. That will definitely help me determine for sure. Can you post a pic of yours?

 

[Beandawg]

I have some of the black/green branching dendros. I've had them a little over a month now, and they are finally starting to open with some regularity and quickness. The polyps aren't black or green though, they are kind of like a dark copper/brown color. When the heads are closed they look green.

 

[ActorMike]

Live Aquaria just got black sun corals in stock today, makes me wonder if a main supplier recently sent them out.

 

[Beandawg]

That is where I got mine.

 

[organism]

No real polyp extension yet. Just a little of the tips showing, occasionally. That will definitely help me determine for sure. Can you post a pic of yours?

Here's mine, the best food I've found for them is powdered pellet food, really makes them open up like crazy, they're pretty much closed in this pic...

 

[Arrivalanche]

hmm. Im on the fence with that pic.

 

[miranda60]

thats not a black dendro... its a black strawberry (tubastrea ) they are pretty cummon in the store were i go.

 

[crxpro88]

Those are cool looking!

 

[organism]

thats not a black dendro... its a black strawberry (tubastrea ) they are pretty cummon in the store were i go.

I never said it was a black dendro, scroll up. Also, these looked a lot more like the "black dendros" posted above when I got them, they end up growing more clustered as they spend more time in captivity.