Soft Coral I.D.

BoomerD · 01-04-2004, 02:28 PM

Got a tiny frag of this last spring at the B.A.R.E. coral propagation meeting. Noever did find out what it was. Checked the club list of things I brought home, and can account for everything on the list. What is this thing?

ReefLady · 01-04-2004, 03:50 PM

It almost looks like a type of encrusting gorgonian - take a peek at these pics from the gallery:

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...t=509&p age=2

and

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...t=523&p age=1

? Maybe?

BoomerD · 01-04-2004, 03:59 PM

It's kind of soft & "rubbery" under the polyps. Here's a pic with the polyps retrcted after I "irritated" it:

Travis · 01-04-2004, 06:43 PM

That looks a lot like my "pulsing sinularia" probably actually a cespitularia. When it's opened up, drop some phyto or inverty food in the tank and look for some individual polyps starting to pulse. If so it's worth a LOT of dough.

Someone was selling small frags for $90 on RC.

BoomerD · 01-04-2004, 09:02 PM

One of the members of the club said either a alcyonium/ colt or a sinularia sp. Still hoping for a good i.d. The sinluaria sort of rings a bell, but so does colt.

ReefLady · 01-04-2004, 10:03 PM

Well, after poking around in Borneman's book, as well as a few others, I think I've made a choice (okay, a guess, LOL).

I believe it's a Cladiella sp.

Unfortunately, most pics out on the net which are referred to as Cladiella really aren't. Here's one decent pic that I could find:

Cladiella is one of the soft corals which is often called a "Colt" coral. However, unlike most other colt corals, Eric Borneman describes Cladiella sp. as not soft, but "quite thick and durable". He also describes it as having "short stalks and stubby fingers", and as "heavy and lumpy when retracted".

That's about as close as I can get. The pics of Cladiella sp. in his book ("Aquarium Corals") look very similar to your specimen.

HTH!

BoomerD · 01-04-2004, 10:16 PM

Wow RL, that sure looks like it. Much closer that any pic I've been able to come up with. You get a star for today!

Yeah, well it was as close to a star as I could find!

Karma atcha too for all your hard work!

ReefLady · 01-04-2004, 10:18 PM

LOL - no prob! Txs for the star! ;-)

Boomer · 01-05-2004, 07:33 PM

Teri

01-04-2004, 02:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Soft Coral I.D. Got a tiny frag of this last spring at the B.A.R.E. coral propagation meeting. Noever did find out what it was. Checked the club list of things I brought home, and can account for everything on the list. What is this thing?

01-04-2004, 03:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	It almost looks like a type of encrusting gorgonian - take a peek at these pics from the gallery: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...t=509&p age=2 and http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...t=523&p age=1 ? Maybe? __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-04-2004, 06:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	That looks a lot like my "pulsing sinularia" probably actually a cespitularia. When it's opened up, drop some phyto or inverty food in the tank and look for some individual polyps starting to pulse. If so it's worth a LOT of dough. Someone was selling small frags for $90 on RC. __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

01-04-2004, 10:03 PM	#6 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, after poking around in Borneman's book, as well as a few others, I think I've made a choice (okay, a guess, LOL). I believe it's a Cladiella sp. Unfortunately, most pics out on the net which are referred to as Cladiella really aren't. Here's one decent pic that I could find: Cladiella is one of the soft corals which is often called a "Colt" coral. However, unlike most other colt corals, Eric Borneman describes Cladiella sp. as not soft, but "quite thick and durable". He also describes it as having "short stalks and stubby fingers", and as "heavy and lumpy when retracted". That's about as close as I can get. The pics of Cladiella sp. in his book ("Aquarium Corals") look very similar to your specimen. HTH! __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-04-2004, 10:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
ReefLady Tridacna maxima Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 4,590 View Gallery Karma Komment	LOL - no prob! Txs for the star! ;-) __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice." ~(currently tankless)~ Our 180g sps tank / DIY adventure (taken down in late 2006): Our 180g DIY Reef Project ---What's next????

01-04-2004, 03:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	It's kind of soft & "rubbery" under the polyps. Here's a pic with the polyps retrcted after I "irritated" it:

01-04-2004, 09:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	One of the members of the club said either a alcyonium/ colt or a sinularia sp. Still hoping for a good i.d. The sinluaria sort of rings a bell, but so does colt.

01-04-2004, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Wow RL, that sure looks like it. Much closer that any pic I've been able to come up with. You get a star for today! Yeah, well it was as close to a star as I could find! Karma atcha too for all your hard work!

01-05-2004, 07:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,607 View Gallery Karma Komment	Teri __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

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