Reef Down Under and Pink Pocillapora

[Pickupman66]

well, I was out that way this week so I stopped by Reef down under in Jackson. WOW! Great Great LFS. I was in awe of the 500 gallon in wall tank. The owner was very helpful and was able to spend time with me as he had just opened.

SO, I fell in love with a pink Pocillapora. (Pocillopora verrucosa). Neat coral and talk about a great price. all coral prices I saw were well worth the stop. so I just had to have it. the piece is about the size of a baseball with only 1 bad head in it with some hair algae which should be good tang food once they find it. after spending about 7 hours inteh bag, we finally got home and placed it in the tank. after dinner, I was looking at it when I noticed a critter. turns out it is a Trapezia (Trapezia cymodoce)crab that hosts in the coral heads and protects it form starfish predators. it feeds on the mucus of the coral. then......I found another one. so I got two cute little coral crabs! here is the best link I can find on one http://www.butterflyalphabet.com/letters/d.htm

So, overall I am very very happy with my experience over there. I will surely go back as he has several other corals I have not seen at AC before.

 

[DMBillies]

I don't know anything about them, but they look cool and sound like a good addition. Best of luck with the coral and maybe I'll have to take a little trip.

 

[c_stowers]

I have the same crab in a pink/red pocillapora that I have had for about 2 years. He never has done anything bad so I have always left them alone. Good luck with your new coral, mine has been a fairly slow grower so far.

 

[Pickupman66]

Chris, Yea. I was a bit surprised that there were 2 of them. maybe a mated pair? we shall see. what kind of lighting do you have yours under? I have mine a bit high I may be thinking. it is about 4" under water surface in a good flow area. the bottom half has opened up so far, and a few on the top, but it has not fully extended.

I came home to day to a very very nice surprise. Every coral in the tank looks incredible. only 1 issue. I have a red milli I got form rewick that is now touching one of the fingers on my mumps. just that tip on the mumps is unhappy, but the rest is absolutely incredible. since the move, the mumps has not been happy till today. wow!

 

[SRT80]

When I was AC the other day, it seemed all of their acros had a little crab living in them....

Steve

 

[c_stowers]

Ive got mine under a 250 Watt HQI halide about 8" from the surface. Mine has always seemed to be happy as far as polyp extension. It just tends to grow slow. It has probably increased in size by 20-30% in 2 years.

 

[Pickupman66]

Thanks chris!

DM, I have not seen the latest stock at AC.