Valida or bonsai or something else?

[kawicivic]

Any ideas? I'm tired of not knowing. It was given to me as a bonsai frag. This is what it looks like now.

Thank you in advance

 

[Frick]

Bonsai would be knowing that it came from GARF Bonsai lieage. If it does not have that lineage then i would say it is valida http://coral.aims.gov.au/speciesPages/species_metadata/0077/view#

 

[Bizzle Wizzle]

Valida mate

 

[jcw]

just to be clear...

there is no acropora with the scientific name acropora bonsai.

It is felt by many that the Garf bonsai is an acropora valida. (although it's always looked a little skinny to me to be valida).

So you can have an acropora valida that is a Garf bonsai. Confusing, yes?


If you look at DFS's tricolor valida it has the plump more appressed radials that I take as more typical to valida. But they certainly can have slightly different growth forms.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=2503

 

[Frick]

So you can have an acropora valida that is a Garf bonsai. Confusing, yes?

IMO, i would separate the two, GARF Bonai is the very Acropora that came from the exact GARF colony. Valida would be an Acropora identified as Acropora valida. Thus giving lineage to Leeroy Headlees GARF Bonsai Acropora valida. I have both, and that is how i distinguish them.

 

[kawicivic]

Thank you - that does help. People have told me that one has this type of polyps and the other has this type, but these explanations make more sense. I have two other corals that were give to me as different "bonsai"s.... Now to figure outiftheyend up looking the same when they grow out. Lol.

 

[Frick]

There are many color variations of tan, purple, and green valida out there, and many will try to tag the Bonsai name to try to get an extra buck for the frag. But the true Bonsai originated from GARF.

 

[krustofsky]

IMO, i would separate the two, GARF Bonai is the very Acropora that came from the exact GARF colony. Valida would be an Acropora identified as Acropora valida. Thus giving lineage to Leeroy Headlees GARF Bonsai Acropora valida. I have both, and that is how i distinguish them.

If the GARF bonsai is a valida, you can't really separate the two. Now certainly most validas are not bonsais but just because it has been given a common name doesn't remove it from the valida sp.

Edit: after rereading your post I see where you were going with it.