It's completely flat and size of a nickel coin. Aren't Gonipora supposed to be round and with stems coming out?
What coral is this?
- Thread starter tc2007
- Start date
It's completely flat and size of a nickel coin. Aren't Gonipora supposed to be round and with stems coming out?
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
There are several different species within the genus gonipora so not all are the same skeletal structure. Some grow flat and encrust, some from like a ball and build a dome upwards. Some have long polyps and get fluffy flesh (like this one) and some stay short and small poylps. I guess Goni is like a box of cholates, never know what species yiur gonna get!
Reefstarter2
New member
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
Sympodium is a soft coral. No skeleron, 100% sure it's not that.
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
Original poster... Can you please get a picture under only white lighting? No blues. And close up of exposed skeleton where flesh has peeled back.
HammerLover
New member
It does look like a goniopora IMHO, but a clearer pic in white light will help. If it is a gonio, it looks pretty unhappy. That's how my gonio look like when it was sulking
I don't think I will be able to take another shot that is better than this.
Patwa
if anyone asks, it's $10
this thread gave me some serious chuckles this morning...thanks RC!
Of course they do. Without a a colonial polyp you have no coral
It's hydnophora. Your coral is a sick or otherwise unhealthy looking hydnophora pilosa.
No, it's not goniopora, IMHO. Each polyp of goniopora has 24 tentacles. Unless the OP can post a decent picture so we can count, we'll have no firm answer to this.
Of course they do. Without a a colonial polyp you have no coral
It's hydnophora. Your coral is a sick or otherwise unhealthy looking hydnophora pilosa.
No, it's not goniopora, IMHO. Each polyp of goniopora has 24 tentacles. Unless the OP can post a decent picture so we can count, we'll have no firm answer to this.
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
It does look like it could be the hydno, however I'm not all in on that until I see a picture under just day light, or a better picture in general.
An even better picture will be out of the water and the flesh fully retracted to see skeletal shape, becasue it doesn't seem to have the chanels that the hydno does, seems to have each round polyp, but until a better picture I cant tell for sure
An even better picture will be out of the water and the flesh fully retracted to see skeletal shape, becasue it doesn't seem to have the chanels that the hydno does, seems to have each round polyp, but until a better picture I cant tell for sure
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
If in not mistaken, gonipora have between 18 and 24 tenticles depending on species. The 24 is a more common. The picture that Tweaked reposted, you can count over 12 and that's an end polyp that looks to be cut or half dead.
This type of Goni is still my best guess. Can you even tell it's a goni? I know becasue it's the same coral in the picture I posted previously where you can count 18.
Patwa
if anyone asks, it's $10
thanks dood
I'm not saying i'm 100% right, but, as always, it's just my $0.02 that, and i'm bored
A better pic will help for sure. Although, i'm having no trouble seeing what I believe to be meandroid-shaped polyps and valleys between the polyps. Somewhat similar to what you'd see on symphyllia or platygyra.
I can definitely say i'm not seeing circular shaped polyps throughout. The fact that most look meandroid and only one or two look vaguely circular tells me it's not goniopora (that, and the lack of 24 tentacles, of course)
If in not mistaken, gonipora have between 18 and 24 tenticles depending on species. The 24 is a more common. The picture that Tweaked reposted, you can count over 12 and that's an end polyp that looks to be cut or half dead.
This type of Goni is still my best guess. Can you even tell it's a goni? I know becasue it's the same coral in the picture I posted previously where you can count 18.
You're mistaken - goniopora always has 24 tentacles. Alveopora has 12...i'm thinking maybe you're confusing the two?
I'm sticking with hydnophora.......not calling a lifeline, not going 50/50 and yes, final answer, Regis!!
SaltyWalter
FUP&A Member
this is what the OP's coral should look like when healthy and puffed up a bit:
hydnophora sp.
Hub
(IMO!)
I do see what your saying in this photo. It's a tough call working with what we have.
On a side note though, please inform me what,species I have in my post on the first page. I posted 3 pictures, fully open, semi closed, and more closed. Then I posted the one a few post above this.
You can count, and there's no way there are 24 on each but way more than 12. Do I have an AlveoGoni? New species?! Hybrid?! I can get more if you want one for yourself.
Also, here's something I found of species described with 18 tentacles.
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