Nepthea vs Sinularia

[insanefishguy]

How do you tell them apart? Are there any definite or obvious differences?

 

[baja_driver]

How do you tell them apart? Are there any definite or obvious differences?

Ive seen a few people talking about using bleach and a microscope to show the differences.

I dont remember the details maybe someone will help me out...

 

[cloak]

Nepthea is abrasive to the touch IMO. (Kenya tree) Sinularia is slimy.

 

[gflat65]

I think it was Borneman that went into detail on determining the genus by sclerite/rods/cones? inspection (bleach and microscope). I just did a search and couldn't find it, though. Used to have it bookmarked, but... Shimek also has a few detailed articles on soft coral. Not sure how much he goes into the genus differentiation, but good reads nonetheless. I have one I call Nephthea and one I call Sinularia. I was mainly using polyp structure as the decision maker, though (may not be at all correct).

http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0998/0998_5.html

 

[insanefishguy]

Thanks for the interesting read. I originally got the coral from Sanjay about 8 years ago and he says says it's nepthea. Good enough for me. Lol

 

[insanefishguy]

Gflat, do you keep any sps in your tank with them? I've kept a mixed reef for years. Always had a "soft" spot for my first few corals. I've been told by a couple ppl that they can brown out and stunt sps. Have you noticed this?