What is the difference between Monti Confusa and Monti Spongodes?
- Thread starter pusanpa
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Opsanus tau
In Memoriam
Most of what you see Dark brow/purple polyps w/a fluorescent green coenenchyma, (body) are Montipora Spongodes,..an extreamly hearty fast growing, (to the point of becomming a nuisance) coral,
that plates, encrusts,..AND branches.
While true confusa, seems to have a pink axial rim, and plates primarily with some incidental encrusting and sort of "spikes" instead of true branches.
IMO...but I don't have ant true confusa, just TONS of spongodes,
I have it growing on/encrusted too- glass, pumps, frag racks, tank bottoms, tank walls...... I think the dog is next if I'm not careful!!
that plates, encrusts,..AND branches.
While true confusa, seems to have a pink axial rim, and plates primarily with some incidental encrusting and sort of "spikes" instead of true branches.
IMO...but I don't have ant true confusa, just TONS of spongodes,
I have it growing on/encrusted too- glass, pumps, frag racks, tank bottoms, tank walls...... I think the dog is next if I'm not careful!!
Opsanus tau
In Memoriam
The reason you asked this question is that you see spongodes on every other web site as "labeled"confusa,..I would say on the average, about 60-70% of them have this wrong.
Probably stemming from the fact that some of the larger companies, ,i.e. DSr. Foster..ect, actually sell spongodes as confusa.
the funny thing is you can go to Dr,F+S web site, check out the "aquacultured corals" and many times you will see two different frags of spongodes, one labeled "confusa" and you will notice it is a DFS frag, and then another frag from ORA or somewhere else, (appearing in the same section) will have it right, and labeled as a spongodes,... last week they were on the same page!
I totally get your question!!!!!!!!
Probably stemming from the fact that some of the larger companies, ,i.e. DSr. Foster..ect, actually sell spongodes as confusa.
the funny thing is you can go to Dr,F+S web site, check out the "aquacultured corals" and many times you will see two different frags of spongodes, one labeled "confusa" and you will notice it is a DFS frag, and then another frag from ORA or somewhere else, (appearing in the same section) will have it right, and labeled as a spongodes,... last week they were on the same page!
I totally get your question!!!!!!!!
mark728
Premium Member
Hi the 1st pic is a Confusa it's about 7in w 8 1/2 in tall,2nd is a purple rim Confusa ,and 3rd is what everyone calls a Spongodes the 1st pic is of the mother colony at Absolutely Fish where I got my frags from but we are not a 100% positive on the Spongodes id I've seen Spongodes in other tanks and mine looks different I don't know for sure but I love it anyway .
MOTHER COLONY 17in wide
my frags
MOTHER COLONY 17in wide
my frags
Frankenpora
New member
Could be Undata IMO
mark728
Premium Member
Sorry I put up the wrong pic, this pic shows my Spongodes next to the unknown monti frag .My friend has a spongodes growing in his tank which is a ORA Spongodes and it does not look like the monti frag I have nor does it look like the mother colony from the lfs .
Last edited:
Opsanus tau
In Memoriam
I call the first, third, and last pics all Spongodes, so here I am confused??,..do I have boat loads of Spongodes or confusa????? ...LOL!!)......but am 100% on board with Frankenpora with that Undata ID.
mark728
Premium Member
Confused yea I am kind of stumped on this one the 3 pic of the mother colony has tall branches that are almost completely round and tall some 8in's tall and it plates more then branching ,and my spongodes and my friends that have spongodes none look like that mother colony and my frag next to the spongodes looks very different ,and my confusa in the 1st pic looks very different .
stagcrazy
New member
this is my spongodes
i love this monti i isolated it to 1 rock and when it gets to big i frag it i have kept it under control for 6 months i have had this colony for 2 1/2 years it started as a 1 inch frag now its 8in around easily,btw the confusa does not shoot branches up like the spongodes thats how u can tell the diffrence.
i love this monti i isolated it to 1 rock and when it gets to big i frag it i have kept it under control for 6 months i have had this colony for 2 1/2 years it started as a 1 inch frag now its 8in around easily,btw the confusa does not shoot branches up like the spongodes thats how u can tell the diffrence.
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