I'm no SPS expert, but I may have gotten the wrong coral.

[Kinetic]

Hi LA,
I purchased an Acropora Sarmentosa (item: 071707121) on July 18th, order # A2565983, but I guess once I purchased it, I couldn't find a picture anymore.

It came in great shape, and has full polyp extension and looks AMAZING! The colors are really neat too, very pastely light green, tips are a bit pinkish, and the polyps are a really dark almost red brown, so it's very contrasting.

The thing is, everytime I see sarmentosas on your diver's den page now, the tips look A LOT sharper than mine. My sarmentosa looks all fat and round, almost like that fake purple monster you had listed.

I love the shape and I'm not complaining at all, but would it be possible that what I have isn't a sarmentosa? Do you have the image of it still?

I'm pretty sure you sent me the coral I saw on the website, so that's not the problem, just wanted to confirm it really is a sarmentosa etc.

If you guys don't have the image still, I'll try to take some shots myself of it tonight.

Thanks a ton!!

- Art

 

[Kinetic]

oh and one more thing... for the first time, I think you guys shipped the coral with a cold pack rather than a heat pack. When I opened up the styrafoam and felt the bag, it was REALLY cold to the touch. I think I may have been lucky it wasn't DOA or isn't stressed out since the package was amazingly cold inside. The pack also felt really cold, while usually the packs are nice and warm when I open it up.

I don't know, but the temperatures around where I live definitely aren't that warm, and need heat packs regardless. or maybe it was just a very cold warm pack =/

either way, how do you determine which type you need? I would always assume a heat pack since in CA it never really gets all that hot. especially at night. Last night it was in the 50's.

 

[dfs/la2]

Kinetic,

Thank you for your post. We have verified with our director that the specimen sent is Acropora sarmentosa, though it is a pretty rare color morph with teal coloration and pink/red tips. Most Acropora sarmentosa are wild colonies collected in Fiji and grow more branched out rather than in a tight cluster, and are normally neon green or yellow, with pink tips. We are sure that each cultured piece’s shape is directly related to the environment in which it was grown: in more shallow water, in intense light, and with a good amount of water flow. The coloration of these Solomon sarmentosas differs greatly from that of Fiji pieces. We are emailing you the original Divers’ Den picture of this coral.

The use of heat or ice packs is for proper temperature regulation inside the box, and is determined based on current weather conditions at both the holding facility and the package’s destination. Currently, we are experiencing average high temperatures in the 90-degree range, and the use of ice packs helps keep the coral from overheating during the first 12 hours of the trip.

Nate M.
LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster & Smith

 

[Kinetic]

Hi Nate,
Got the email, and yes the photo is exactly the coral I got. It's definitely fatter and rounder than other pictures I've seen. I REALLY like the shape and structure, and am very happy with the coral. I guess it is the different conditions.

Thank you for verifying. I really appreciate it!