purple stereonephthya on DD
- Thread starter uhuru
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aninjaatemyshoe
New member
According to the Fabricius and Alderslade "Soft Corals and Sea Fans" book, Stereonephthya sp. are non-photosynthetic. This has been reported in other, older literature as well. However, recent study has proven that there are zooxanthellae in some Stereonephthya species/individuals.
From VAN OPPEN, M. J. H., et. al. 2005 (Molecular Ecology 14:8:2403-2417):
"Three unrelated GBR taxa that are described in the literature as azooxanthellate ( Junceella fragilis, Euplexaura nuttingi and Stereonephthya sp. 1) contain clade G zooxanthellae, and their symbiotic association with zooxanthellae was confirmed by histology. These corals are pale in colour, whereas related azooxanthellate species are brightly coloured. The evolutionary loss or gain of zooxanthellae may have altered the light sensitivity of the host tissues, requiring the animals to adopt or reduce pigmentation."
This doesn't really give any definitive answer because the genus Stereonephthya is known to be both zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate. Furthermore, we have to take it that the Live Aquaria folks are pretty good at identifying these corals - it isn't easy. From what I've observed sofar, they are a cut above the rest when it comes to this. Maybe they'll chime in.
From VAN OPPEN, M. J. H., et. al. 2005 (Molecular Ecology 14:8:2403-2417):
"Three unrelated GBR taxa that are described in the literature as azooxanthellate ( Junceella fragilis, Euplexaura nuttingi and Stereonephthya sp. 1) contain clade G zooxanthellae, and their symbiotic association with zooxanthellae was confirmed by histology. These corals are pale in colour, whereas related azooxanthellate species are brightly coloured. The evolutionary loss or gain of zooxanthellae may have altered the light sensitivity of the host tissues, requiring the animals to adopt or reduce pigmentation."
This doesn't really give any definitive answer because the genus Stereonephthya is known to be both zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate. Furthermore, we have to take it that the Live Aquaria folks are pretty good at identifying these corals - it isn't easy. From what I've observed sofar, they are a cut above the rest when it comes to this. Maybe they'll chime in.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
I've kept two seperate colors of a seemingly identical species of Stereonepthya, and they were both at least semi-photosynthetic. They would "deflate" at night, and "swell" when the lights came on.
They were similar to these two:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2548&pcatid=2548
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2597&pcatid=2597
They were similar to these two:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2548&pcatid=2548
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+2341+2512+2597&pcatid=2597
rowjimmy
New member
They've offered these several times lately, was wondering if anyone here got one and can verify if it is non-photosynthetic, partially photosynthetic or what... and is it really THAT purple?
uhuru,
I didn't get my Stereonephthya sp. colonies from DD, but they look very similar to the ones offered on DD. I got a few different color morphs on one rock. I can confidently say the Stereonephthya I got are indeed photosynthetic/or at least semi-photosynthetic from my experience with the corals.
My particular specimens expand best during full tank lighting (I run two 250w 10,000k MH, and four 66w 03 Actinic CF bulbs in my 75 reef). They expand to their greatest capacity during full lighting periods. When I just have the actinics/moonlights/total darkness the specimens in my tank shrivel up and deflate. Once my halides kick in it's like I dropped a Viagra in the tank, and they perk right up:lmao:. So they are somewhat light dependant IME with the ones I currently keep.
They are very purple when deflated/semi-deflated. You can see this in the first picture of the specimens I obtained before I attached it to the rock work in my system. The second picture shows them attached at night after lights out semi-deflated...they can/do deflate smaller then this.
The third pic shows them in their full glory expanded with full tank lighting. When they are fully engorged with water they take on a semi-transparent appearance within the stalks, and the color isn't as bold. Hard to describe...it's like colored tissue paper shown through light, or stained glass (bad analogy, but it's all I can think of at the moment).
They are very beautiful corals. My lame camera doesn't really capture their true beauty and color the way it looks in person.
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uhuru
New member
That's very interesting. I have seen 2 of your pics before, but this is my first time seeing that first one, which is really nice by the way. Do you find them hard to keep, or easy because they are at least partially photosynthetic? I'm just curious at this point... if they are as easy as other photosynthetics I'm surprised they aren't more popular.
rowjimmy
New member
I would consider them easy/easier to keep because of the fact that they are at least semi-photosynthetic IME. They love the light in my system, and look best during full lighting periods. I'm hesitant to make a blanket statement on these corals though cause I keep a mixed reef with many NPS corals/filter feeders/etc., and feed HEAVY. My system is nutrient rich, so that may play a key to my success with them.
If someone were to just rely on lighting alone with little to no feedings I don't know how well this coral would do. It could very well thrive on lighting alone, but I don't know because of the type of tank I keep, so I can only relay my experience with this coral in my particular system.
I like you are very surprised that if they can get by by photosynthesis alone they are not more popular, and that you would not see them in alot more tanks. They are very beautiful, and the next best thing to the very colorful but hard to keep Dendronepthya corals.
If someone were to just rely on lighting alone with little to no feedings I don't know how well this coral would do. It could very well thrive on lighting alone, but I don't know because of the type of tank I keep, so I can only relay my experience with this coral in my particular system.
I like you are very surprised that if they can get by by photosynthesis alone they are not more popular, and that you would not see them in alot more tanks. They are very beautiful, and the next best thing to the very colorful but hard to keep Dendronepthya corals.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
IME they require some supplemental feedings (at least the species I've kept). When I first received a colony I put it into my growout system that contained mainly SPS and only one fish. The system received little food, but lots of light, and the coral did just "OK". Once moved into a different system with very little light, but tons of food additions the coral was much, much happier.
With that said, they are a truly underappreciated coral. I've seen them in several Japanese SPS dominated tanks that are loaded with fish and have high light and they look great, likely due to the high amount of feedings, but I'm unsure if any particulate matter is fed to the system (directly for the coral).
With that said, they are a truly underappreciated coral. I've seen them in several Japanese SPS dominated tanks that are loaded with fish and have high light and they look great, likely due to the high amount of feedings, but I'm unsure if any particulate matter is fed to the system (directly for the coral).
uhuru
New member
The DD description does say low light. Usually, for the true non-photos, it will also have a note saying so, and that the coral requires special conditions. This one doesn't have anything like that. Well, as much as I'd like to try it, I don't think I could meet even the "low light" requirements for this coral, at least in the place where I would put it.
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