Sun Coral Questions

[d9sccr]

Okay, so I have been looking into getting a sun coral over the past few months. I know about their feeding requirements, but had a few questions about species. I saw one that was not for sale in my LFS that I really liked. It was growing in a branch style(imagine a tonga branch rock covered w/ sun corals). It had a green "skin" with orange polyps. I was really drawn to this as I am a UM student. My second question is about the sun corals that have black "skins". What do the polyps look like? What's a fair price for them? Thanks in advance.

 

[dendro982]

Black tubastrea: Tubastrea diaphana, almost black (very dark brown) with brownish olive green polyps, lighter shade, than the main body. General impression of inverted color. Compact branching growth.

T. miracantha (or miracanthus) is another black sun coral, longer branches, lighter shade of brown with greenish polyps.

You can see good photos through the Google (or any other) Image Search.

 

[d9sccr]

Thanks

 

[Kolognekoral]

Andrew, it could be Tubastrea, but it could be Dendrophyllia. Both have the same requirements. If it is a branched species, then check out T. micrantha. There is very little literature over these corals, other than for T. faulkneri and T. aurea. If you decide to purchase it, send out a foto. I have no idea what they cost in the States. In Europe around â"šÂ¬40-60.

 

[Kolognekoral]

here is an interesting link I found.

http://www.buttercreamdreams.com/tubastrea_micrantha.htm

 

[d9sccr]

okay..i'll look into those..I had no idea that there were two corals that looked that similar..thanks for the heads up

 

[dendro982]

Sorry, forgot to post the price:
this T. diaphana (rescue case - receded tissue, sharp edges) cost me $40 two weeks ago:

Right after shipping from wholesaler - around $55-59 for the same coral, is very slightly better condition.

Comparing to orange one:

One more link about T. miracantha recovery.
HTH

 

[d9sccr]

I really like those. I found one today, but it was in the show tank so I couldn't buy it.

 

[dendro982]

They are available frequently, at least here, and sometimes they are on the same rock with orange tubastrea, for the one price for both