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FAQs about Dendrophylliid Coral Identification
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Related Articles: Dendrophylliid Corals,
Related FAQs: Dendrophylliid Identification 1, Dendrophylliid ID 3, Dendrophylliid ID 4, & Dendrophylliids 1, Dendrophylliids 2, Dendrophylliid Behavior, Dendrophylliid Compatibility, Dendrophylliid Selection, Dendrophylliid Systems, Dendrophylliid Feeding, Dendrophylliid Disease, Dendrophylliid Reproduction, Stony/True Coral, Coral System Set-Up, Coral System Lighting, Stony Coral Identification, Stony Coral Selection, Coral Placement, Foods/Feeding/Nutrition, Disease/Health, Propagation, Growing Reef Corals, Stony Coral Behavior,
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Coral possible Balanophyllia
12/31/09
Hi Crew
<Big T>
Noticed you listed a possible Balanophyllia with interest with
one that looks like mine but the picture was smaller.
Do you think mine are Balanophyllia, they've been in three
months, came on some new live coral rock and have never been
treated to any spot feeding, but they have spread to about 3
times initial colony
<Could be>
Size each arms length is approx 7mm
Thanks
Tony
<Are beauts! And testimony to your good, consistent
maintenance/care. Bob
Fenner>
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Coral Identification 02/08/09 Hi, I have a
coral, which I have thought was a Tubastrea (Sun Coral), but some
people think it might be a Dendrophyllia (Dendro) <Just for
clarity of those reading, both Tubastrea and Dendrophyllia are in
the family Dendrophylliidae. It's confusing I know. In any
case, this coral could be either... it's pretty much
impossible tell these apart without looking at the exposed
skeleton under a microscope.> or Duncan because it looks fairy
different than the common sun-corals I've seen. <It
doesn't look like a Duncan to me.> I'm guessing
it's just a less-common variety of sun coral, but there has
been quite an extensive discussion about it amongst some local
hobbyists as I've started to trade out some frags. (It is
doing very well) It seems to act like a sun coral, naturally only
coming out at night, unless I entice it out during the day with
feeding. This picture is after feeding a bunch of mysis, and
after lights out. <I do hope it's a Tubastrea sun coral...
the Dendrophyllia are much more difficult to care for...
Best,
Sara M.>
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Coral ID 1/8/09 Hi Bob, <Hello
Beta. Minh at your service.> I have attached a pic of the
coral that I need an ID on. I don't much have info on the
specimen as the pic was sent to me by a friend. <I assume you
are referring to the brilliantly colored yellow encrusting hard
coral in the right center of the photograph, correct? At first
glance, one could pass this coral to be Porites sp. (perhaps
Porites cylindrica). However, upon closer inspection, the polyp
size and extension in comparison to the Turbinaria peltata on the
lower left indicates another coral from the genus Goniopora in
the Poritidae family. The size and extension of the polyps as
well as the growth form of this particular specimen resembles
Goniopora stutchburyi. However, the coloration of this specimen
does not appear to be natural and I'm afraid it could have
been dyed. Unfortunately, I have seen similar corals often
imported to our local fish stores in the states. More information
about dyed corals including a photo of a close matching specimen
can be found here:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-09/eb/index.php. Also,
more information about care of Goniopora stutchburyi can be found
in detail here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2/. I have been
researching Goniopora care for a few years now, so feel free to
write back with more information on identification or care of
this genus.> Regards
Beta
India
<Good luck. Cheers, Minh Huynh.>
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Coral identification & gigas clam shell formation
question 9/23/08 WetWeb Staff, First I just wanted to
say thank you for providing such a wonderful service.
<Welcome> I just have two quick questions. First, regarding
Dendrophyllia, I purchased a few heads from two different online
vendors and can only positively identify one colony as
Dendrophyllia. I suspect that the second colony might be
Tubastrea, but I am really not sure. I was hoping that you
wouldn't mind taking a look at the picture attached and offer
your best guess as to what the second colony is. I know that the
only true way to determine the species is to examine the
skeleton, but your best guess would be greatly appreciated.
<The photo sent appear to be of the genus Dendrophyllia> My
second question is concerning the growth of my gigas clam. Once
again, this was an animal acquired from an online vendor. I have
had it for just about 3 months now and it is doing fine. I have
noticed about a half inch of new growth, but what concerns me is
the unusual shape of the shell. I'm guessing that since the
clam is doing so well, I really don't need to worry about it,
but I am curious to know if the growth pattern has a chance of
harming the clam as it grows larger. Pictures are attached for
your review. <Not to worry... growth will slow, the shell
change a bit going forward> Thanks in advance for your
response, and thanks once again for providing invaluable service.
Marc
<Again, welcome. Bob Fenner>
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SPS ID 1/25/08 Crew, Please help me ID
this neat little coral I found in the bottom of my trashcan used to
cure rock. I assume it is an SPS, Montipora of some sort? It was
not this size when I found it, but after putting it in the main
display it opened up and seem to instantly start encrusting over
what appears to be a dead piece of skeleton that resembles its
structure. I'm glad I found it when I did, not sure how much
longer it would have lasted in the trashcan. It has some nice color
too. Lucky for me, I'm in the middle of slowly converting the
display over from a LPS dominate to a SPS dominate tank. It will
fit in just fine with the Acroporas. See attached picture.
<Looks to be Turbinaria reniformis and is often thrown between
LPS and SPS classification. Good lighting and general SPS
conditions and you should be fine and have a fast growing hardy
inhabitant. See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dendrophylliidae.htm> Thanks,
Bryan
<Olly> |
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| Dendrophyllia ID please 01/21/2008 Hi,
I'm wondering if you can indentify this coral. I bought it
December 26th as Dendrophyllia but the exact species was unknown.
It was not advertised where it came from, but the shipment also
contained Rhyzos and Monomyces. The shipment arrived very rough. I
was actually looking forward to getting my hands on a Rhyzo but for
$500 I wanted a healthy one. So I passed and took the other
"safe" "rare in the hobby" coral. It didn't
open much for the first week or 2. Only enough to feed. Now that
its much more settled in its opening every night and looks amazing
through the night and early morning. However as soon as the lights
fire it starts to close up. I was under the> impression Dendros
have little to no reaction to light. <This is
incorrect'¦ though many are noted as being weakly
photosynthetic> This leads me to believe it could be Tubastrea,
meaning I grossly overpaid. The store I bought it from is pretty
legit as far as having "rare in the hobby items" I know
they aren't rare in the wild but if they don't sell them in
shops I'm not going to have them in my tank. Here are the time
lapsed pics. I turned on my lights after it had opened up at night
to see if it was just a timing thing. MH firing>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/1.jpg >
light fully on (250w 14k)>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/2.jpg>
> > shortly after>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/3.jpg>
> > approx 2minutes later>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/4.jpg>
> > approx 2minutes later>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/5.jpg>
> > 2 more>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/6.jpg>
> > just 2 more minutes and they're closed>
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/7.jpg>
> > this is about 30-40 minutes later>
]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y234/andrewkw/dendro/8.jpg>
> If any other pictures would be helpful let me know. If this is
sun > coral I grossly overpaid and will be very disappointed if
I can't > enjoy it during the day time. I'm currently
feeding daily either Cyclop-Eeze, pe mysis, or my own blend of misc
uncooked seafood plus Cyclop-Eeze. Thank you for your help
Andrew Kwon> <This does look like a Dendrophyllia
species to me, likely D. arbuscula; but am going to ask SaraM here
for her input re. Bob Fenner> |
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Duncanopsamia axifuga, Whisper Coral,
Duncans -12/25/2007 Hey Bob, hope this finds you well and having
fun. I most certainly am. First off... thank you for all your input on
my elegance and after reading a few tough emails your way, I would just
like to say " with my dumb luck and your excellent advice my
elegance is doing wonderfully." ( I would rather be lucky than
good, good only gets you so far!!) <<Sara here now. :-)>>
Second...I think it cool that you have one of my pics adorning the
masthead of one of the pages on your site :>) and now my
question...any information on this animal, Duncanopsamia axifuga,
Whisper Coral, Duncans. <<Ugh, these common names can be annoying
sometimes. The first time someone told me they had a "Duncan"
it was actually an Acanthastrea. So then I thought a "Duncan"
was just a name for a type/color variety (or origin description) of
Acanthastrea. But, anyway, thanks for the clarification by including
the Latin name.>> I truly believe I have searched the site and
other areas to no avail. <<Hmm, try searching the spelling
"Duncanopsammia" --two m's. ;)>> I am to the
understanding this is coming out of Australia and that it is tank
cultured and pretty much grows like a weed, is this correct and other
knowledge you can lend would be much appreciated. <<According to
Veron's "Corals of the World," they're from the
family Dendrophylliidae and naturally found around the northern and
western coasts of Australia and in the South China Sea. But unlike
their Tubastrea cousins, they ARE zooxanthellate. From what I've
heard/read, they prefer swirling water flow and generous feeding.
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find much more detailed
hobby-focused articles or captive-care information on them.>>
This coral seems to be showing up a lot for it to be "not seen
often." Again, all thanks, and Merry Christmas Ron <Don't
know much re this particular species care... Am asking SaraM here to
reply. BobF> <<Unfortunately, I don't know that much about
them either... but am quite curious now. Merry Christmas, Sara
M.>>
Re: Duncanopsammia axifuga, Whisper
Coral, Duncans -12/26/07 Sara M. Thank you, the extra "m"
was exactly what I needed. <Ah, good.> I found lots of info. IMO
this is a very beautiful coral, reminds me a little of a Catalaphyllia
jardinei but it is not so rare, other than recent arrival to the
States. Beginning to think more buzz than anything else. Even still I
bought one and am happy I did:>) <They do seem like
interesting/beautiful corals.> Ron :>) <Good luck,
Sara M.>
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