Coral of the Month November: Favia

[goldenmean]

Thanks Greg for the info.
I really appreciate it and no, you did not come across as a know it all.
I had wondered about that.
My LFS said it was a favites but most of the favites I had seen online did not quite look like mine. I will do some more research on Platygyra.

Greg, I think you are right.
The faviid family is large and there a subtle differences among the genius.
From Wet Web media. Faviidae. Check out all 3 parts.

This is why RS and this COTM thread is special.
On other sites the members would all be flaming each other for misnaming their corals. RS is so polite and helpful!

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by goldenmean

Thanks Greg for the info.
I really appreciate it and no, you did not come across as a know it all.
I had wondered about that.
My LFS said it was a favites but most of the favites I had seen online did not quite look like mine. I will do some more research on Platygyra.

I would tend to agree on the id. ID'ing even to the genus level in this family can be quite confusing since you will see variations in growth pattern depending on environmental conditions.
Regardless, never trust the LFS id of corals chances are they are using the wholesalers ID, and there are still a lot of wholesellers that rely on common names to describe corals when selling to retailers. some places are really good about id'ing corals when they come in, other places just label what the wholesaller labeled it and mark the price up.

As far as coloring up, they do seem to color up quite quickly, either for better or worse in captivity.
You can see the color difference in mine from the week I got it until a few months after I had it:



It lost all the white stripes which is why I originally purchased it

[aquaman3680]

Wonderful looking corals everyone! I personally dont know a whole lot about these corals. The only one I have is the first one pictured, and I know that one is encrusting. I have often thought about getting some more!

Matt

[Octoman]

Here's my TBS hitchhiker. I never have figured out what he is, but maybe he can hang out with the Favias...

[hma]

Hi Mark,

looks like a Montipora digitata for me ...

-

[Frankie]

bump

[Octoman]

Originally Posted by hma

Hi Mark,

looks like a Montipora digitata for me ...

Looks like that is the one!! Wow, been trying to figure that out for a long time now...

Thanks Heinz!!

[deaclauderdale]

Here's my favia's

[hma]

This one of my Favias ....

[CATALYST]

Should favias and zoos touch?

[hma]

Originally Posted by CATALYST

Should favias and zoos touch?

Never, the polyps are very fragile. Touching the polyps leads to damage.

[mps9506]

Favia sweepers may also sting less aggressive corals in the vicinity.

[CATALYST]

Will it damage the zoos or the favia? Mine are touching but it's a new thing.

[mps9506]

Well if they have grown towards each other naturally there isn't much you can do about it
It's possible they will get used to each other and things will be hunky dory. Or the polyps may irritate the edge of the favia colony and cause some tissue recession, or the favia may sting nearby zoa polyps causing them move back.
Sorry it's not 100% answer, but that's kind of the way it happens on the reef also, corals overgrow each other, sting each other etc all in competition for prime space for light and flow.