Name my SPS

[luvabunny]

At CRASE, I bought a little, bright green SPS frag, mostly because it was cheap, bright, colorful, and I wanted to see how it would do in my tank.

I've never been a real fan of SPS, mostly because to me they just look like colored rocks, but this little guy gets WAY fuzzier than a colored rock, even going so far as to say it can wave in the current.

I've attached a couple of poor pics. At pic taking time, lights have only been on for a couple of hours, and he could still get fuzzier, tho I already can see "velvet" swirling around in the current.

It's bright, almost neon green. Very thick branched, not like birdsnest. I haven't noticed a lot of growth, but would have to say it's grown more in thickness than height. I got it from the guys who drove from ND, if that helps.

Anyone got an ID? Does it appear healthy in the pics? Should I not be seeing so much fuzziness...i.e...is it starving, feeding, happy, etc? Right now it is at the bottom of my tank, under T5 lights, and seems happy enough to me. I will move it eventually, just sort of enjoying watching the growth on all of these frags up close and personal for now.

Sorry, I uploaded and removed them 3 different times and couldn't get the pics to show. You'll just have to click on them to see them this time.

 

[happysak]

Hydnophora sp.

 

[luvabunny]

Thanks happysak. Googling hydnophora, I find there are many different types, mine is obviously a branching type. Some places say the encrusting type have long sweepers and a potent sting. Should I expect the same from the branching type? So far, other than the velvet, fuzzy appearance, I've not noticed real sweeper tentacles. Is that something it will grow later?

 

[pwhitby]

Hydnophora are extremely potent stingers. They will kill just about every other coral they can reach.

I like them, they are bright and unusual shaped, but caution is advised on placement.

Paul.

 

[cody6766]

IIRC, they can have quite a reach when they go to sting too. Give it it's space and enjoy it's beauty! I've always loved the way they look

 

[luvabunny]

Thanks for the answers guys. Please excuse my ignorance, this is my first SPS.

As potent stingers, will they sting *me* when the fuzzy stuff is out, or is this only with sweepers, certain times, ages, etc?

Obviously I should place this somewhere where it can be easily removed, should the possibility of seahorses come back in the picture, but about how much space should I allow for it now? It is less than 2" tall. If I give it a 6" clearance all around, would that be good for a year or so? Right now it is less than an inch from another frag and I don't see any problems *so far*.

What kind of feeder is it? I only notice it fuzzy when the lights are on. Does that have anything to do with it? Besides feeding frozen mysis and brine, I regularly dose phyto and micro-vert. Should I be actively trying to feed it anything in particular?

 

[Mylilreef]

i have a couple hydnophora in my tank. i keep my other corals about 2 inches away from it, but that is upcurrent in a high flow area. i just lean on the side of caution and keep my other corals a good 6 inches away downcurrent as to not blow any sweepers into them. i still have not actually seen its sweepers to say how long they are. i can attest to the powerful sting though since i purchaced a candycane coral from the same guys. my wife picked that one out being it had 2 heads. there was a hydnophora that had fallen on it earlier (don't know for how long), but by the time i got it home the damage was already appearing, it had lost every bit of green color on the spot where it was touching. and a few days later that half of that head was nothing but skeleton. just this past week it has finally regenerated its tissue and got its color back. and for the first time since purchase i finally saw its feeding tenticals out tonight.

so to make a long story short, it has a VERY harsh sting! even for the hardiest of corals. correct placement could be a matter of life or death for its neighbors.

hope this helps and most of all, enjoy. still one of my faves in my tank.

 

[Mylilreef]

as far as the sting goes for you, i personally have never been stung, and i unfortunately have handle itto reposition it and lots of others probably once a week as my clumsy urchin is constantly “redecorating” the tank. hopefully i can get the new tank set up soon and permanently button everything down. if you do handle it, wash your hands before touching anything else as the 'slime' it gets on you can damage other corals you touch.

i don't feed anything special. just lots of light, zooplankton, and it sometimes 'grabs' a piece of frozen meatier food when feeding the fish.