Hmm, Candycane Caulestrea ?

[Sheol]

Actually, it might be a Caulestrea, or something else. The polyps look just like a candycane (trumpet, etc.) coral. However, the skeleton is almost Favia. Spherical & dense. I'm sorry there are no pics, maybe I can borrow someone's digital camera.
Is there any species of Caulestrea that fits that description? Only thing I can say for sure is that its a favid, my favorite coral family.

:smokin: Matthew

 

[Duce]

What what said could be this odd ball coral I have seen at the LFS once.
The other possibilities I am thinking could be either lobo (lobo brain) or Glaxeria.
Picture would be best way to id.

 

[Sheol]

Nah, definitely not a mussid of any type, though it does have a slight resemblence to a Blasto.
It really is a favid of some type, it even has the stripes of a caulastrea. But the skeleton is really like an outright Favia. Interesting since Candycanes are favids, even if aberant.
I'll see if I can borrow a digital cam from one of my cousins tomorrow at the family picnic & get a shot of it so you can see.
Nearest thing to it in pics I've seen is a Caulastrea pic in Borneman's "Aquarium Corals" though that wasn't nearly as spherical.

Ciao for now,
Matthew

 

[Duce]

Could it be an Acan Lord?

 

[humanremainz]

there have been some unusual caulastrea's coming out of Fiji for a while , look's like caulastrea with the polyps all fused together.

 

[Sheol]

Actually, yeah it does look a bit like an Acanthastrea. So maybe I'm being hasty in dismissing all mussid corals.
That Fiji description of the coralites fused in their Caulastrea also sounds likely.
I simply must get you guys a pic of this SOMEHOW (I'm no phootographer) so you can see it. Whatever it is, its really cool.

Matthew
PS. The LFS where I got it has a nice Acan too I'm thinking of buying today. I had to get a refill of a medication I take for pain, but it came out a lot less than I feared. So its of to the store in a few minutes

 

[Sheol]

Well, after examing & re-examing many pictures of Caulastrea sp. corals, Humanremainz is right on. Its that type from Fiji. Interesting, I'm guessing it must be closely related to the ancestor of all Caulastrea. The point where they abandon the typical rounded, "brain coral" shape.
No luck on the Digital cam. My cousin-in-Law has one, but is too new to help me (sigh).
Gonna have to buy a (cheap) one to learn on.

Matthew

 

[Duce]

Would love to see a pic when you have get your hands on a digi cam.

I have a Fiji CAndy Cane but mine seems fairly normal (skelton and growth form) the only thing is its green is different than the Indo's I've seen.

 

[Sheol]

I had one during the early months of my tank ( it was a frag & never really took off, never made it..) that was sort of a glowing Teal color. Was that like yours?

Matthew

 

[Duce]

The centre is sort of lime green with brown outer ring with white stripes.

 

[southernsong]

I've seen a lot of those fused caul. types lately. It catches you off guard for sure when you get so use to seeing run of the mill indo stuff.

 

[Sheol]

Its neat, really. That is what caught my eye ( & the fact that the competing favid cost about 40 dollars more US). Sort of an impulse, but when I'm in a coral buying mood common sense takes a powder ( Which is why I'm also trying to heal a wounded Monti SPS from the same store. They get cool corals, but I fear no one knows long term care of such there <Sigh>. Only after polyps came all the way out did I notice it looke very much like a Caulastrea. I don't know if this is a new species or just a different variety, but I will keep my eyes peeled for more!
Also, still looking for a cam to get pics.

Matthew
I bought that Mussisd (Acan??) too. Coral budget temporarily EMPTY.

 

[Duce]

Pics! Pics! Pics!

 

[Justin74]

There's five specie of Calaustrea, without pics I cant even guess:sad1:

I guess I will let you though...
http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralid_search.php



-Justin

 

[Sheol]

Thannx a million! That narrows it down to C. connata or C. echinulata.

Justin, you were a big help! Think I'll bookmark that site!

Sincerely,
Matthew