Colt Coral ID - 02/06/2006 Hi Crew! <Hello Elvin.> Just wondering if you can help me with an issue I'm having. I plan to have small info packets people can grab from the side of my 48GAL Reef System aquarium which describes in detail the pieces of coral they are looking at. <That's a good idea.>   I'm still having a problem identifying this particular piece of colt coral. Any ideas on what is the scientific name for this one. <Sorry Elvin, but no pic. has come through. If you don't see it in our FAQ's, try finding it here http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralsearch.php .> Thank you very much. Elvin South Milwaukee, WI <Hope that helps some. - Josh> LFS Can't Get the Correct Coral 01/29/06 Hi Crew, <<Hello Mohamed. Ted here.>> A LFS has tried to order a coral from Indonesia for me but every time the wrong one is sent.<<I assume you mean LFS (local fish store).>> I need to know what the coral is named in Indonesia, please. I have a book Aquarium Corals by Eric H. Borneman, on page 129 there is a picture of the coral I am interested in a yellow Sarcophyton with long and short polyps. On LiveAquaria.com there is a Yellow Fiji leather coral. < http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=651>. Is the one in the book and the one on the site the same type of coral? <<Yes.>> What is the coral in the book named in Indonesia or Fiji, please? <<I'm not sure how to help you. The official language of Fiji is English. I also don't understand why your LFS is having trouble ordering this coral as it is commonly available. In any case, here is a list of MAC certified wholesale operations in Fiji and Indonesia that your LFS could contact for assistance.>> <Likely Sarcophyton elegans. RMF> Thanks, Mohamed. <<You're welcome. Good luck - Ted>>

Re: Leather Coral Identification, Family Alcyoniidae  Good Morning. <Hello again Bob M.> Thank you for the prompt reply and identification help - <You are welcome.> I'd come to similar conclusions myself as to the corals, but a more experienced insight is very helpful. Why they call the Sinularia flexibis 'spaghetti' coral I have no idea, there must be some crazy looking pasta out there somewhere!  <Ooh yes, common names can be quite perplexing at time, though as your sinularia grows and becomes "fuller" you will see why it was given this name.>  I agree about the need for research prior to purchase of livestock, and I did quite an extensive amount, but without accurate labeling in shops then correct identification is always going to be difficult, especially with corals like the Sinularia which is entirely different in colour and shape when open or closed.  <I understand, the research comment was not meant as an insult or attack. I just want you to be prepared because as you already know the LFS has a tendency to be "off" at times.>  The main problem is that printed literature seems to be out dated almost before it's printed in such a fast moving hobby, and much of what is out there on the internet is not always entirely accurate in my experience,( thank goodness for sites like yours!). Anyway , thanks again for the help. Keep up the good work. <Thank you for the kind words.> Bob Mehen.
<Adam J.> 
 

Mystery Leather Coral Good Morning Gents, <Hi there! Scott F. with you today!> My local fish store has what it is calling a Tonga Carpet Leather Coral. I have been searching WWM and the web for info on Carpet Leather Corals without much success. I have found Carpet Anemones and Leather Corals but no Carpet Leather. This coral appears very different from my current Leather Coral (much smaller polyps, bunched closer together, and doesn't extend as far out). I am looking for some type of identification information and the difficulty in keeping these corals. Any information would be appreciated. <Hard to be sure without a picture, but it really sounds like a fancy name for a Sarcophyton elegans to me. Common names are frustrating for both the hobbyist and people in the trade, because they don't really identify the animal!> I'm looking for a second opinion (an unbiased) opinion. The LFS states that they are very hardy and easy to keep with my power compacts. Thanks for the help. J.T. Craddock <Well, J.T., if it is the S. elegans that we're talking about, it can do well with PC's, if placed high enough on the rock. The bright yellow Sarcophytons really keep their color under metal halides (they tend to respond best to "daylight" spectrum lights), but tend to go to "brown" under inadequate lighting. They are rather easy to keep, in my experience, but do handle them carefully, as they "bruise" easily. They derive pretty much all of their nutrition from the water, and don't require any supplemental feeding. Hopefully, we're talking about the same species here! Good luck! Regards, Scott F> Coral ID - 2/10/03 Hi WWM crew, <cheers> First, thanks for all your help since we have successfully beaten an ICH infestation with your help.   <excellent to hear> It hit us pretty hard though, cause we lost most of our fishes. <ouch> But that's the past and we are back on track, with strict quarantine procedures. <alas... too many of us learn the critical importance of QT that way> We decided to try our hand at soft corals.  We recently purchased what looks like a finger leather coral.   <correct... a good hardy choice too> But we are not sure what family of corals it really comes from. <it is an Alcyoniid... a common Sinularia- AKA "Knobby Finger Leather"> Attached is a picture, though my camera kinda sucks.  Can anyone shed some light on this guy ?  Also it was attached on a flat piece of rock which we attached to the flattest area we have among the rocks.  But it looks like the attached rock broke in half and the coral is slow slipping down to our base rock.  Maybe the coral wants to reattach ?   <agreed> If you look at the bottom right of the coral, it now detached from the excess rock that is slowly folding upwards. Shall we stuff small pieces of rock to support it from sliding down to the base rock ?   <only if you don't want it to attach there> Any other suggestions ? <avoid letting coral attach to huge rocks in the display for convenience in moving them later> Thanks a million, Robert <best regards, Anthony>

Red Lobophytum Hi: <<Hello, JasonC here...>> I bought a red leather coral @ a local pet store. I tried to find the genus on the web and found that it is a Lobophytum sp. The problem is the color. I could find no information that says that it comes in red. I did find a picture of one that looks just like mine but it is green. The one I have is BRIGHT pink. I'm wondering if this Lobophytum could be dyed. <<Does sound like it...>> Although it has been 3 weeks it has not faded but the liquid in the protein skimmer IS red. <<Interesting, certainly a good indicator.>> If it is dyed how long will the color last? <<Not more than a couple of months.>> Lastly will the dye harm anything else? <<I doubt it, and it sounds like your skimmer will grab it out so... no worries.>> Thanks Steve <<Cheers, J -- >>

Colt Coral (formerly Cladiella and more recently Alcyonium. Now Klyxum) I  have been searching for info on colt coral maybe you could help me. recently my colt stopped polyping out. I checked the water and all is very  good. my Bullseye, clove polyps, mushrooms and hammer are all doing great although I did notice my button polyps a little withdrawn. I am worried the colt will eventually starve (it has been 3 weeks since it has fully polyped. Thanks for any help or info Rich <do try a change of carbon (small amounts used weekly instead of large portion monthly), a good water change of 25% or better, and be sure that your skimmer is giving you almost daily skimmate. You have listed some severely noxious corals that require these measures. If water quality hasn't been up to par, you might blame allelopathy from the chemical warfare of your corals. Anthony>