ID please.....

M

Monkey_Bone

New member
At 1st I thought this was a fire coral but Ihave touched it ( accidentaly) and the bristles are soft and retract fully like polyps on an acro?
They dont sting or penetrate ther skin even onthe softest part of the hand/arm.
It seems to grow fast inan encrusting formation for the most part but it is also trying to branch off a bit to it looks like?

It came from Florida waters as a teeny tiny hitchiker I recieved on a polyp rock. It also seems to be turning a VERY NICE hot pink
coloration more and more each day. It started out as a tan'ish buck skin coloration.
Any takers?

Mysterysps.jpg
 
SK8r think about what forum I posted this in for sec. :)
Its an sps. :) It is hard to the touch but smooth.

menard blue ridge corals are blue with individual polyps that resemble digitata but farther apart. they grow much wider and thicker branches than this thing. ;)

Thank anyways though guys I apreciate the fast responses.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7628997#post7628997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Monkey_Bone
SK8r think about what forum I posted this in for sec. :)
Its an sps. :) It is hard to the touch but smooth.

menard blue ridge corals are blue with individual polyps that resemble digitata but farther apart. they grow much wider and thicker branches than this thing. ;)

Thank anyways though guys I apreciate the fast responses.
Click to expand...
Man, Blue ridge aint blue,when that coral is no longer living then its blue. BLUE SKELITON.;)
 
:confused:

Heliopora coerulea polyps look nothing like any Montipora sp. that I am aware of. Nor are they found in Florida. I thought it was H. coerulea until you said it came on florida rock. Any way you can get a closer and clearer pic, because I have no clue at the moment.
 
"Heliopora coerulea polyps look nothing like any Montipora sp. that I am aware of. Nor are they found in Florida. I thought it was H. coerulea until you said it came on florida rock. Any way you can get a closer and clearer pic, because I have no clue at the moment."

Who mentioned montipora?

Here is a closer pic its all the way in the back of the tank and the tank is 18" deep. This is as close and clear as I can get it I think.
I will try with the macro lense but I think it may be to far back for it?
Mysterysps2.jpg
 
First off Im no coral expert...Im a fisheries biologist. But I know a little.

I would say definately Milleopora sp. on a first glance based on texture and shape of the polyps. But you say it doesn't sting?? Maybe youre superman.....

Other choices...
Corals from the family Stylasteridae (lace corals) esp. genus Distichopora - close relatives and also hydrocorals. Same texture and basic polyp shape. The problem is they are supposed to be pretty rare and dont do well in tanks (They depend on food and nutrients for ALL of theirenergy needs)

NOT Heliopora - I have never seen one that color and it's not fuzzy enough, the polyps arent right.

If I had to pick something thats not a hydrocoral it would be Erythropodium sp. an encrusting gorgonian. Supposed to be almost impossible to kill and super agressive. But...they are not supposed to form any vertical outgrowths....at least theyve never been observed to.

Ive found one good ID character to narrow it down. Are the apertures where the polyps come out of the stolon star shaped?

Yes - youve got Erythropodium

No - probably a hydrocoral of some sort.

My money is on you being superman, especially since this piece is from Florida where they are super common. Milleopora stings with the polyps, not bristles of any kind. And to call it a burning sensation IME is being generous. Its more of an annoying itch that goes away in about an hour. Now I know folks who have very bad reactions too and even one who has no reaction at all.

Hope I helped.
 
I was thinking millipora as well. An easy way to prove or disporve it, break of a tip, or small peice, if it is millipora, it will be blue on the Inside.
 
Forearm1.jpg

Forearm2.jpg


Nada, nothing, zip , zilch.
Not even an itch.


I preffer to be called the Aquaman. Not superman.
LOL!!!



I AM NOT BREAKING OFF MY CORAL!!!

I will do it if you have a nice large pink Yuma you will chop up into pieces and poct pics of it? ;) :mixed:
 
I don't think breaking off a little peice would do much harm.

It would tell you one of 3 things,

Blue inside, helliopora
If it fizz's, millipora,
If it does nothing, and is not blue, unknown, keep searching.

I'd cut my pink ric if I had a reason too!
 
Not gonna do it.


I strongly believe it is millepora now though.
Same coloration, same "fuzz", growth pattern ect ect.....
I just seem to be imune to its sting I guess?
 
I know it!

I know it!

Its........Unknowapora! I've seen quite a few times, quite an amazing specimen of Unknowapora. Congrads.

cheers
David:lol:
 
YEAH!!!! I have the elusive "Unkowapora" !!!!!
I have always wantted my very own! LOL!!!



It is NOT a blueridge coral. Dosent even resemble one.
BLueridge coral do not have fine hairs, they dont grow in the same pattern as this, and they are blue based with brown/tan, or blue polyps.

Absolutley, unequivicly NOT a BLueridge coral.

Its Millepora. Click the link I posted and look at the pic closely in the link. Its a fire coral.

Blueridge coral is not an sps. They are actualy an octocoral
( pretty much a gorgonian with a stony skeleton)
 
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