Not sure about ID

[Palting]

Hi, guys. Decided to cautiosly get into the NPS group of corals. Here's one specimen I got from the LFS. The LFS said it is "like" a sun coral, but he did not know exactly what it was. I've done some reading, perused Borneman's book, and I'm not sure either. Dendrophyllia? Thanks!!

 

[Palting]

Tubastrea??

 

[coltrref]

dendrophyllia for me

 

[coralreefdoc]

Dendrophyllia. Looks very similar to an orange tubastrea but with larger polyps

 

[Palting]

Thanks, guys. Dendrophyllia it is, then .

 

[CuttleKid]

I have to disagree. to me it looks like a starved balanophyllia colony. I had a similar smaller colony that looked identical to that. You can tell the differences in the shape of the polyp. Balanos have a more egg shaped polyp. they are not quite as round as dendro colonies. Plus the tentacles are white which is typical of balanophyllia and atypival of dendrophyllia.

 

[coralreefdoc]

James. Good call picking up on that, balanophyllia. Dont know why I typed dendro, brain mustve been unconsciously thinking about the post above. Thanks for the correcting

 

[CuttleKid]

No problem CRD. I cant tell you the number of times i type something while thinking of something other than what i intend to type but end up typing it anyways.

 

[deacon hemp]

I agree with cuttle.

 

[Palting]

Thanks again, guys. So, a "starved" balanophyllia.

I purposely made and placed this one in a shaded but high flow area. Polyps come in and out in varying legths and duration night or day. Some of the food I feed the fish get to it, and I also target feed with mysis and plankton, even NLS pellets. I actually see some of the food stuck on the tentacles each time I feed. I've even made a slurry, and with the pumps off this slurry covers this thing like a cloud for 15 minutes or until I turn the pumps back on.

Despite that, I see no feeeding response. Are the tentacles supposed to retract when food hits them? How do I know it is eating, or that I'm feeding it right?

Thanks!!

 

[Palting]

Are the polyps supposed to extend more with feeding, or retract to pull in food?

Thanks!