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| FAQs about Identification of Caryophyllid Corals Related Articles: Caryophyllid Corals, Elegance Coral, Related FAQs: Elegance Coral Identification, Caryophyllids 1, Caryophyllids 2, Caryophyllids 3, Caryophyllids 4, Caryophyllid Compatibility, Caryophyllid Systems, Caryophyllid Selection, Caryophyllid Behavior, Caryophyllid Feeding, Caryophyllid Disease, Caryophyllid Propagation/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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Re: Another hitchhiker ID please 10/10/09
Hi crew!
<Hello Nicki>
Just thought I would send some updated pics on our 2 mystery guests.
They are both growing and getting bigger.
<Thank you for sharing with us, very nice pics.>
Thanks,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Nicki
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I.D. Please, Euphylliid
9/17/09
Hello, Crew
I am wondering if someone can I.D. this (coral/anemone ?) here in the
attached photo's.
It grew on the skeleton of a pearl bubble tip coral, but on the outside
.
It has one boney disk and one fleshy mouth . Will eat daily, meaty
foods, so I feed it
every other day. Is it an anemone or a coral ? I'm confused !
Thanks for any input you can give me.
Karrie
<Does appear to be a regenerating Plerogyra or Physogyra... Is a
Scleractinian... Coming back from seeming oblivion in your good care.
Bob Fenner>
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Anemone, What Is It 6/21/09
Hi I have 3 small clear Anemones. I have not been able to ID them.
Attached is a pic of them. Could you let me know what they might be. Are
the Bad or good Anemones?
<Appears to be a species of Glass Anemone, not desirable. See re here.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/index.htm Scroll down... to
Aiptasia...>
Thanks
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
<<Time for new spectacles James... see the skeletons underneath? This is
a solitary Caryophylliid... RMF>>
Dan
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Coral Identification... Euphyllia
paradivisa 5/30/2009
Hello,
<Hi there Charles, Mich here.>
I was wondering if you could help me ID this coral?
<I will certainly try!>
It was sold to me as a frogspawn that was doing poorly in the tank it was
in.
<Looks to be.>
I have had the piece almost 6 months now and it is healthy.
<Looks pretty good to me.>
Since then I have been told that it is Euphyllia cristata, but it does not
look like any photos I have ever seen of Euphyllia cristata.
<Is a Euphyllia paradivisa from the photo and your reports of separate
heads.>
When closed it does look like a frogspawn with 5 separate heads
Thanks,
<Welcome, Mich>
Charles
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Strange White Growth. Baby
Anemones?/ Anemone ID
5/30/09
Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read this!
<Hello, and you're welcome.>
We have a 55gal SW aquarium which has been set up for about 4 months now. We use
a wet/dry sump filter, and have a small fuge growing some macro algae (for the
'pods). We have a 2-4 inch substrate bed and about 40 lbs of live rock. Our
inhabitants are 2 Sebae clowns who share a Long Tentacle Anemone, 1 Midas
Blenny, 2 black Mollies (left over from cycling), 1 Red Dragonette (seen in pic
2), and 1 Mandarin Dragonette as well as various snails and crabs. We have some
different corals, a few small feather dusters (hitch hikers) and a big orange
sponge. About a month after the aquarium was set up, I noticed a very
small white growth on one of the live rocks and upon inspection, found that it
had tentacles. Being brand new to salt-water (in the house anyway), my first
thought was a baby anemone. So, I have left the thing alone and watched it grow
until a few weeks ago when I was asking someone about it (by my description, no
pics), and they said it might be Aiptasia, and I needed to kill it. Looking
back, I think that the person was wrong about this particular growth, but I did
find and kill some aiptasia using Aiptasia-X. I had applied this
compound to the little white critters (by this time, 1 had turned into 3), and
they looked dead until about 5-6 days ago. Now the original one looks like I
never harmed it, and the two little ones behind it are starting to look alive as
well. I have scoured the internet, read every fish related archive known to man,
and followed up on every hunch that anyone has indicated, and I can not seem to
positively identify these things. If they are not harmful, I would like to
continue to watch them grow, and even nourish them if possible. I think they're
really cool looking, and if they will grow to a decent size, that would be
incredible. I have no idea where they came from! Would you please help me?
Attached are two pics. I have more if these two are not clear enough or
anything. Please let me know.
<The pics do not have too much detail, but first impression appears to be the
Glass Anemone (aiptasia). There are six or seven species of this pest and may be
the reason the pics you are finding do not match exactly. The fact that one had
turned into three in a very short time is a good indicator that these are likely
aiptasia.
Have you read here and related articles/FAQ's.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm>
Thank you!
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
-Confused/Concerned
Daive
<<James, no! The stony skeleton of this animal is clearly visible...
This is a Scleractinian... likely a solitary polyp Caryophylliid sp. RMF>>
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Aiptasia? Please Tell Me It Isn't
So! – 03/22/09
Hi there.
<<Hello>>
I hope everyone there is having a great weekend so far.
<<Can only speak for myself but yes, not so bad>>
I absolutely love WWM and have found it extremely helpful.
<<Ahh…is redeeming to know>>
I was looking in my tank tonight and noticed these creatures. The first
thing that popped into my head was ahhh no is this the dreaded aiptasia?
<<Hmm…looking at the picture, I’m not sure>>
I just started my tank about 5 weeks or so ago and have been working on
getting the stuff together slowly. I only have around 20 lbs. of live rock
that I purchased from my LFS. There are around 5 or 6 of these on the rock
so far. I looked at as many pictures as I could in the archives and in
books. From what I have seen there are tons of different aiptasia "types"
and couldn't find the exact picture of mine.
<<The photo provided is not really close enough or sharp enough for me to
tell for sure. These “could” be Aiptasia but I don’t think so. They could
also be Anemonia Majano, or a Hydroid; which some folks consider to be a
worse scourge than Aiptasia (try some keyword searches on those names and
see what you think). But to me, these polyps look to be Scleractinian rather
than Actinarian (hard corals vs. anemones/similar animals) as it appears
there is a “skeletal structure” surrounding each (or maybe it’s just the
photo). I’ll ask Bob to comment re if he sees this>>
<Mmm, is a Scleractinian... perhaps solitary Caryophylliid... I'd leave
alone.RMF>
I was sort of hoping it would be something else like possibly some sort of
worm?
<<Not a worm…but quite possibly a “desirable” hitchhiker>>
I fear I am wrong though and wanted an expert opinion.
<<I can’t be sure without a better resolved close-up photo>>
I thought I had taken precautions against these pests.
<<These may not be the “pest” you fear…though it is essentially impossible
to keep Aiptasia from eventually showing up in a system, in my opinion. Best
to be vigilant…and to have a plan>>
I have 3 peppermint shrimp, and some red legged hermits, apparently mine
don't eat these so hopefully it will be ok?
<<I have always found such “biological controls” for Aiptasia to be
unreliable and of little use. For Aiptasia/pest anemone control I very much
recommend the use of Red Sea’s Aiptasia-X>>
I have read emerald crabs eat these too.
<<Not in my experience>>
Maybe I'll be buying one of those?
<<The money will be better spent on the Aiptasia-X>>
I planned on changing my CC substrate to a DSB in the morning but now am
unsure of what to do. I read a lot of posts where people get these epidemics
and can't seem to get rid of them.
<<Based on the photo, you hardly have an epidemic>>
Should I remove the rock and let everything die off and never buy rock from
this LFS again?
<<Mmm, no…a bit drastic and unnecessary in my opinion>>
Please tell me it isn't aiptasia.
<<Can’t say for sure. Get a bottle of the Aiptasia-X and if they continue to
spread or if it just makes you feel better, you can get rid of them.
Otherwise, I would be inclined to watch/enjoy them for a while and see what
develops>>
Thank you very much for your time and help.
<<Quite welcome>>
I don't have any friends in this hobby yet and don't trust the guys at my
LFS after selling me the CC substrate and now this ugh.
<<The local fish stores (or anyone for that matter) don’t always have all
the right answers or provide the “best” advice…and don’t forget they also
need to make a buck. Some stores are certainly better than others, but
regardless of which is available to you; do your research ahead of time and
learn to rely upon yourself and your own good judgment>>
Thanks again.
Roman
<<Regards, EricR>>
<NOT Aiptasia... RMF>
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Bubble Coral: Physogyra and Plerogyra 1/27/2009
Hi wet wise crew.
<Hi Kai, you are also a wet one! I'm sure you know, Kai means sea in Hawaiian, is a very nice name! Mich with you today.>
Have a query about bubble coral today. I have 2 bubble corals in my tank, one is green while the other is kind of a pale pinkish white colour. The green bubble coral opens up very nicely and the bubbles look plump and taut. The other one however, has smaller and much more bubbles. Are they of a different species?
<Quite possibly.>
I am starting to think that the lighter coloured one is a pearl bubble coral, Physogyra spp.
<Very well could be from the sounds of it.>
How do I differentiate the 2, if they are indeed different?
<Could probably be done visually.
An example of the two different genera here:
Physogyra lichtensteini: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dwfangselfaqs.htm
Plerogyra sinuosa:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/7/aquarium_album/plerogyra.jpg >
If the one with the smaller bubble is not Physogyra, and instead, the normal big bubbled one, is it a problem that the bubbles are small and numerous?
<Not likely, but I do suspect that you have two different genera.>
Thanks for the help
<Welcome!>
Regards - Kai
<Cheers,
Mich> Bubble coral 02/08/09
Hi Mich, thanks for the reply :) Yes, i am rather wet...judging by how unhappy my bed is every morning. Omg, lol i was joking. Thanks for the links, i have concluded that my two bubble corals are indeed different species. The smaller one has weird and odd shaped bubbles...unlike the normal one.
<It's best not to get in the habit of judging/determining species by the soft tissue. You'd likely have to look at the exposed skeletons of these corals to know for sure what species they are, if different or the same species.>
I'm pretty sure its a pearl bubble coral. Oh....my fox coral got toppled by my turbo snail, and a small 0.5cm piece of skeleton broke off, tearing away some meat with it. What are the chances of recovery?
<If the coral is otherwise in good health, it should recover just fine.>
I have placed it in an area with moderate flow to wash and clean the wound.
Also, i purchased a torch coral and a hammer coral 3 days ago. The hammer coral is opening up really beautifully, but my torch coral has only opened up about 30% of its potential... I figured both will take about the same time to open up as both are from the same family, but it does not look like it. I am quite worried for my torch. Any idea why it is not opening up?
Perhaps 3 days is a little too soon as it may need more time to get used to my tank?
<Possibly, yes.>
I am just quite confused as my hammer coral took only 1 day to open up 100%
<No need to be confused, different corals behave differently. Yikai, you seem very interested about all these corals. Let that interest/passion drive you to read as much as you can... and learn the scientific classifications of these corals, some of the science/theory behind these things.>
Thanks for the prompt reply Mich.
<Sara M. here this time, helping.>
Hope you have a great Chinese new year :) (we are celebrating it here in Singapore), and happy year of the ox! Regards - The wet one
<Cheers,
Sara M.> Is this a bubble coral? 8/19/07
Hi again Crew,
<Hello Agnes, Mich here.>
I have always thought that this is a bubble coral and the bubbles do look like it. But all of the pictures I see online of bubble corals don't have the flat middle showing just a cluster of bubbles that look like a bunch of balloons. Sometimes mine opens up about 4" to 5" across and looks just so pretty. I would like to know for sure what it is. I'm sorry I said that, I know it's really hard sometimes to be "sure" of anything in a marine tank.
<Yes, you are correct it is a bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa). The flat middle is normal, though not always as visible as yours appears to be. Nothing to worry about here.>
Thanks for your help again.
<Welcome!>
Agnes | 
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Coral identification, Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens). 2/20/07
Good morning guys,
<Hello Steve, Mich here.>
I want to start by saying what a great site you have.
<Thank you for your kind words.>
I have been in the hobby about 9 years and have learned more in the few months since finding your site then the years of trial and error on my own.
<Often the case.>
I recently received a new coral for my birthday (picture attached).
<Happy Birthday!>
My wife purchased this coral for me and was not sure of the name. I am trying to find out what kind of coral this is. The structure of the polyps looks almost star-like. Once I get an identity some info about feeding, water flow, and placement.
<I believe you were given a torch coral (Euphyllia glabrescens). These corals are typically found in somewhat turbid location, and do well with a gentle current and bright indirect light. Be aware of the sweeper tentacles, they can give quite a sting to any nearby corals and possibly even you! I typically get blisters from this genus. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caryophyllids.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caryoeuph2.htm >
My set up is a 75 gal DAS tank about 75 lbs live rock, built in skimmer. The sand bed is less than 1/2 inch. I have two 175 W metal halide lights with 2x 96W actinic lights. I have the actinic lights on from 9:00 am to 9 pm with the halide's coming on at 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Also a little natural light hits the tank from 6:00-8:00 am. The lights are placed about 12 inches from the water. Currently this coral is placed at the top of the tank about 6 in from the top. He is right in the middle so not directly under the halides.
<I think this may be too high. I would be concerned about light shock. It is better to start most any coral low and gradually move the coral closer to the lights to prevent photostress.
More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/acclimcoralslight.htm >
He does seem happy sweeper tentacles coming out often. I was not able to quarantine this coral since I took down my quarantine tank a few weeks ago to start a small tank for my daughter. I also didn't plan on adding any more corals or fish so I was not thinking this would be a problem.
<Always good to have a QT on hand even if it's just a Rubbermaid type container, heater and filter.>
I have been feeding DT's phytoplankton, as well as baby brine shrimp.
<Watch the DT's can kick up the Nitrates.>
Other tank mates are orange Tubastrea (feeding really well but getting algae in the center)
<I'd try to remove the algae, perhaps with a turkey baster.>
1 green finger leather,
<Torch should be placed away from the Sinularia.>
colt coral, Lobophyllia, Wellsophyllia, and Montipora peltiformis. Fish are 1 regal tang,
<I do wish your tank was bigger for this fish. Usually recommend a 100 gallons at a minimum for regal tang (Paracanthurus hepatus).>
1 clown, and 1 Lyretail Anthias. I was worried about the high placement but due to the brain corals I didn't want to place too close to the new one.
<Yes, the torch can pack a powerful punch.>
Lastly the only dosing I do is with iodine, and liquid gold pro. My calcium is a little high, it's about 510.
<Too high under 400 is better.>
I have not dosed any calcium in months but it has not lowered.
<How's your alkalinity?>
Thanks for your help please let me know if you need any more info.
<You're welcome. -Mich>
Regards,
Steve | 
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Bubble Coral? I D help. 2/22/06
Hello guys! I looked through the site and cant seem to find a bubble coral that looks like this one. Instead of the round polyps like my other (Plerogyra sinuosa) bubble coral, this one has very odd shaped polyps (see pictures).
<Yep... looks like Physogyra... see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/caryoeuph2.htm>
Also, instead of one big mouth, this one seems to have several small mouths when the polyps contract at night.
<Yepster>
Other than that, it has the same sweeper tentacles at night, and looks/acts the same as my other bubble coral. I'm just curious why it has the smaller mouths and odd shapes polyps. Also it is branched, I didn't know bubbles did that. It has a main skeleton that splits in two like a tree, with a separate coral on each head. Thank you very much for any help!! (And when is Conscientious Marine Aquarist 2 coming out!!??)
Eric
<Heee! Hope to be working on some other titles ahead... Be chatting, Bob Fenner> |  |
Coral I.D. 9/29/05
Hi! WWM Gang,
Rich Wilson here,
<Howdy Rich.>
Sending you a picture to see if you can ID these 3 singular corals.
I have had them about 6 month's, they look similar to a Grape or Frog spawn, they are open all day when the lights are on, and continually wave about, (might be due to water movement) they are approx 1" tall & 2" in diameter, deep pink at the base.
I have looked just about everywhere to ID them, the only coral like it that I can find in my books and on the WWM coral ID is the Grape & Frog spawn.
<Looks like you identified it correctly. Its definitely a Euphyllia, I cant really tell the exact species whether it be a torch, frogspawn or branching hammer. I trust your judgment though and at any rate care is about the same for most of the coral in this family.>
Regards,
Rich W
<No problem. Adam J.>
<http://photos.msn.com/Viewing/Album.aspx?PST=8nK2AN1B!1Lc0GYplxDie
Cvw92t*ASJd*UxWfvs7XZ*Zdo9vopUW5kqbh7V!1aN*5QaiI7NsxE2dUiDhKsJUjw%24%24> | 
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Coral ID 10/21/05
Good morning, to whom ever I get a hold of. I recently purchased this frag
for two dollars at my LFS. They did not know what it was (the fish/coral mgr.
was off) I was helped by the woman who sells rodents. It has purple bubbles
and little feeding tentacles Can anyone ID this for me? Thanks in
advance, Lucas
<Mmm, looks to be a Euphyllia species to me. Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/caryidfaqs.htm
Bob Fenner> | Euphyllia sp. 10/19/05
Good morning, to whomever I get hold of. I recently purchased this frag for two dollars at my LFS. They did not know what it was (the fish/coral mgr. was off) I was helped by the woman who sells rodents. It has purple bubbles and little feeding tentacles Can anyone ID this for me? Thanks in advance, Lucas
<Hi Lucas, it's very hard to tell what exact species your coral is so we will simply refer to it as Euphyllia sp. (more than likely it is a torch (E. glabrescens) or frogspawn (E. divisa). Please provide it with moderate lighting, steady/clean water parameters and light/moderate current. It should recover and grow for you with proper care. Good luck Lucas! - Ali> | 
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Euphylliid ID
Pearl - Wall (Physogyra lichtensteini) what about this what is the
difference between pearl and wall pearl I cant seem to find the one
above.
<Mmm, this is one species... Physogyra lichtensteini is found in a few habitats... Bob Fenner>
Euphylliid IDs 6/29/04
Is there a difference between a branch frogspawn and wall frogspawn?
<They are different species>
some site say there the same others charge more for the all. thanks :)
<Much of the losses suffered o import are reflected in the price of animals that survive :) Best regards! Anthony>
TORCH CORAL
Happy Thanksgiving,
Hi there Bob, got a question about my torch coral. There seems to be a large bubble that has formed right in the middle of all the polyps on the torch. I've looked everywhere trying to find out what this might be but haven't found anything. What might this be?
<Likely nothing but the coral itself>
It is the same color as the fleshy part of the polyps.
<Have seen such apparent "growths" before... not discovered that they're anything but some activity of the animal/colony itself Resolves on its own. Bob Fenner>
Thanx,
Charlie E. Pink Frog Spawn... ah, no 11/7/04
There is a guy that has corals for sale on eBay and he claims to have a very rare pink frog spawn. Have you ever heard of such a thing or does it probably not exist?
<very likely one of those ignorant or insidious vendors selling bleached corals (pastel colors) as "rare" to the unsuspecting>
I have searched all over the web and have found no other on pink frog spawn. Thanks, Andy
<correct... does not exist in a healthy state. Anthony> Frogspawn or Torch coral ID
I just purchased over the weekend a coral the LFS said is a Torch Coral,
however it does not look like any of the pix I can find on the net.
I'm attaching a few pix for reference in ID. Hopefully you can let me
know what I got.
<< Well the pics are very difficult to make it out. However, it looks like a Frogspawn coral to me, which many people call Torch Corals. >>
THANKS
<<torch1.jpg>> <<torch3.jpg>> <<Leather_and_unk.jpg>> <<torch2.jpg>>
<<torch4.jpg>>
The file Leather_and_unk is a pic of a leather coral (I think) I
obtained from a friend in Germany along with the coral (unknown) in the
background there-of. << Yes, a typical Sarcophyton Leather Coral. >>
Any ID on these would be great as well!
Again, Thanks-n-advance
Robert Molenda
<< Blundell >>
Identifying of bubble coral!
Hi Tim again,
I got this bubble coral. I was told it was a cay-eye bubble coral from the LFS. Is this correct or what's your ID on it?
<There are many common names for corals; I personally find these common names misleading. I can think of several common names to describe one bubble coral (Such as pearl bubble coral, Bladder coral, Bubble coral, etc.). If you wanted the proper name for the coral, it would be Plerogyra sinuosa (Otherwise known as the Bubble coral, Bladder coral, Cay-Eye bubble coral, etc.)
Thanks.
<No problem. Take Care, Graham.>
Cheers,
Ben | 
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Coral Identity
I was hoping that you could help me identify the coral in the attached
pictures. The form is similar to that of a xenia,
<not so, my friend... Xenia is a soft coral (octocoral) and this is a scleractinian: Euphyllia divisa... AKA Frogspawn/Grape coral. A stony coral (hard coral)>
but the polyps, which glow green under actinic, are more like the tentacles of an anemone, also there appears to be a central feeding tube in the middle.
<the mouth of each polyp>
The trunk feels hard and calcareous, off of which there are three branches on which the heads sit.
<the skeleton/corallum>
I appreciate any help you can give me.
Thank you. Ed Ingold
<this is regarded as a large polyped stony coral and requires small weekly if not daily feedings of finely minced foods. See here for feeding guidelines: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/fdreefinverts.htm Best regards, Anthony> Coral ID
Could you please tell me the name of this coral, along with what type of lighting you would recommend for keeping it, and what source of food it needs if any? Thanks
<The coral pictures is commonly referred to as a Torch coral, Euphyllia glabrescens. These corals show up best under moderate lighting and current. Some type of fluorescent (VHO or PC) makes their colors really come out. Somewhere about 12" from the surface under fluorescent lighting or closer to 20" under 175 watt MH's. This, like many LPS corals, needs fed with small, meaty zooplankton substitutes. Plankton, Mysis shrimp, and Sweetwater Zooplankton are all good choices. Let me suggest to you Eric Borneman's "Aquarium Corals". It is an excellent reference. -Steven Pro> |
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Identification Please?
Could you identify this. LFS was not sure when they sold it to me as a
torch. Could be frogspawn. Please let me know your best guess.
<no guess needed for either of us: it is "Frogspawn", Euphyllia divisa. best regards, Anthony Calfo | 
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Octocoral
Dear Robert
<Anthony Calfo in your service>
Please find attached a pic of an 'Octo' coral that I purchased from my LFS 3 days ago. I am told it is related to 'bubble' coral. Can you help me identify it please? I'm sure its is from a sort of stinging celled coral family.
<yes... fair to call it a "bubble" coral. It is the Caryophylliid, Physogyra... also commonly known as "Pearl or Rice bubble coral">
I resides about 6" from the surface of my water The lighting is currently 2 marine whites 1 actinic 03 & 1 50/50.
<fine indeed... is appreciates moderate lighting...not too bright (MH are too sever without very careful acclimation). This coral needs regular feedings of finely minced meaty foods (large can be damaging although ingested)>
During these early days in my tank is it normal for the stinging tentacles to be open as in the pic? My LFS said it likes very low flow.
<low to moderate...never strong flow>
Is this correct?
<yes>
It is currently placed halfway across the length of my 72" tank and the outflow from my pump is to the right of it (pointing at the coral to the right of the pic). All other powerheads are directed away from it
Is this too much flow?
<sounds reasonable>
Is this why the tentacles are out so much?
<if by day, it is an indication that you have a lot of dissolved organics (overfeeding, a skimmer that doesn't produce daily skimmate, etc).. the coral senses proteins and wants to feed>
Should I just wait until it has acclimated properly? Or move it to an area with lower flow?
<fine position, leave be... and never move new coral within the first week... a surefire way to kill some on stress of acclimation. Research a coral well before you buy it and put it in an appropriate place the first time. Also note that this coral is rather aggressive. Tentacles will come out to sting and kill neighbors. Keep all other coral 6-10" away or risk losing them. Best regards, Anthony Calfo> |
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