Unknown Coral (to me at least)

Cougra · 08-07-2007, 08:48 PM

Can anyone help me ID this coral?

Unfortunately it's the only picture of it I was given and I have to admit I really dislike ID'ing corals, give me fish anytime!

panmanmatt · 08-07-2007, 08:51 PM

Almost looks like a type of gorgonian to me.

charlesr1958 · 08-07-2007, 09:02 PM

Thats what I was thinking, A gorgonian. But what ever it is, I want one too!...lol When it extends it polyps, what color are they? If white, then it is most likely azooxanthellate and would need high water flow and lots of food. Have never seen such large polyps on such relatively small stalks before, very interesting!

Chuck

Dentoid · 08-07-2007, 09:31 PM

It's beautiful, what ever it is! Is is flexible or are the main stalks stoney?

mps9506 · 08-07-2007, 09:52 PM

I suspect Anthogorgia sp. or Muricella sp.
Probably Anthogorga sp. but I'm not an expert at this, that's assuming that they are even in the order Gorgonacea, I might be entirely wrong

Cougra · 08-07-2007, 10:04 PM

I really wish I could answer any of your questions for you, however the person who took the photo knows absolutely nothing about corals and can't answer even the simplest question about it. He was surprised when I mentioned that the polyps weren't open so it would be very hard to ID. What you see in this photo is the only information we will be provided with!

Cougra · 08-07-2007, 10:10 PM

I think I found a picture of it in Eric Boremans "Aquarium Corals" book, page 156 of the hard cover version (I don't know if the page numbers are the same in the soft cover book, labels as "Unidentified Red Sea gorgonian". From the look of the picture it does look like the polyps are blue when they are opened not white.

mps9506 · 08-07-2007, 10:18 PM

Ugh, I gotta buy another copy of Aquarium Corals, I loaned one out to one of my employees, and then she got fired before I got it back...

I still stick by Anthogorgia sp.

Frankie · 08-07-2007, 10:32 PM

It looks to be very flexible. I have a feeling it is from deep darker waters. I really like it though a wonder how it would do in the darker areas in my tank. There it is again. the dark word. I have had something like this in the past i think.....

aquaman3680 · 08-07-2007, 10:35 PM

it is called a blueberry gorgonian. Very pretty! Do a searcxh and see what you come up with.

Matt

Frankie · 08-07-2007, 10:35 PM

Reef Corals of the Indo-Malayan Seas > Species: Genus Anthogorgia

mps9506 · 08-07-2007, 10:47 PM

Why in the world did that not come up when I Google'd?

mps9506 · 08-07-2007, 10:54 PM

Hmm, google didn't like me, it came up this time in addition to this:
Species: Anthogorgia

This is astrogorgia, I think astrogorgia has large withdrawn polyps:
Astrogorgia
POPPEIMAGES™

I don't think color is a good way to id these genera, you need to look at the structure. Again I really don't know much about anything in this order

caitrina · 08-08-2007, 07:34 AM

Thought thats what it was...Liveaquaria.com had one of those for sale a few months back as did one of the vendors on our site. They show it with the blue polyps open, of course.

kathywithbirds · 08-08-2007, 09:55 AM

Wow, beautiful. Saw a blueberry gorgonian in an LFS once, with polyps open. It was definitely blue, can't say what color the stalks were.

08-07-2007, 08:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Unknown Coral (to me at least) Can anyone help me ID this coral? Unfortunately it's the only picture of it I was given and I have to admit I really dislike ID'ing corals, give me fish anytime! __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

08-07-2007, 08:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
panmanmatt Golden Moray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Waretown, NJ Posts: 2,042 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Almost looks like a type of gorgonian to me. __________________ The mind is like a parachute, it only works when opened. (\__/) (='.'=) (")_(")

08-07-2007, 09:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
charlesr1958 Cabbage Leather Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mactan Island, The Philippines Posts: 359 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Thats what I was thinking, A gorgonian. But what ever it is, I want one too!...lol When it extends it polyps, what color are they? If white, then it is most likely azooxanthellate and would need high water flow and lots of food. Have never seen such large polyps on such relatively small stalks before, very interesting! Chuck __________________ __________________________________________ Chuck's Addiction Reef & Reef Aquarium Articles and Links

08-07-2007, 09:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,827 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) It's beautiful, what ever it is! Is is flexible or are the main stalks stoney? __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

08-07-2007, 09:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) I suspect Anthogorgia sp. or Muricella sp. Probably Anthogorga sp. but I'm not an expert at this, that's assuming that they are even in the order Gorgonacea, I might be entirely wrong __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

08-07-2007, 10:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) I really wish I could answer any of your questions for you, however the person who took the photo knows absolutely nothing about corals and can't answer even the simplest question about it. He was surprised when I mentioned that the polyps weren't open so it would be very hard to ID. What you see in this photo is the only information we will be provided with! __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

08-07-2007, 10:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cougra Dragon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 2,216 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) I think I found a picture of it in Eric Boremans "Aquarium Corals" book, page 156 of the hard cover version (I don't know if the page numbers are the same in the soft cover book, labels as "Unidentified Red Sea gorgonian". From the look of the picture it does look like the polyps are blue when they are opened not white. __________________ Michelle Just because something CAN be done, it doesn't mean that it SHOULD be done!

08-07-2007, 10:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Ugh, I gotta buy another copy of Aquarium Corals, I loaned one out to one of my employees, and then she got fired before I got it back... I still stick by Anthogorgia sp. __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

08-07-2007, 10:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,155 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) it is called a blueberry gorgonian. Very pretty! Do a searcxh and see what you come up with. Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip

08-07-2007, 10:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Why in the world did that not come up when I Google'd? __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

08-07-2007, 10:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally stoked dude Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 7,518 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Hmm, google didn't like me, it came up this time in addition to this: Species: Anthogorgia This is astrogorgia, I think astrogorgia has large withdrawn polyps: Astrogorgia POPPEIMAGES™ I don't think color is a good way to id these genera, you need to look at the structure. Again I really don't know much about anything in this order __________________ Mike "The Bandwith Bandit" Help Build Reefpedia Premium Membership Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

08-08-2007, 07:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
caitrina Golden Moray Join Date: May 2007 Location: Somewhere in Florida Posts: 2,611 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Thought thats what it was...Liveaquaria.com had one of those for sale a few months back as did one of the vendors on our site. They show it with the blue polyps open, of course. __________________ A reef tank is like a potato chip, you can't have just one! Chronicles Cat's Healing Gift: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ling-gift.html Cat’s 90 Gallon Toy: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...allon-toy.html 24 G Mystery Pod: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...stery-pod.html

08-08-2007, 09:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,847 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Unknown Coral (to me at least) Wow, beautiful. Saw a blueberry gorgonian in an LFS once, with polyps open. It was definitely blue, can't say what color the stalks were. __________________ (\_/) (\__/) ( . .) (^.^) (")(") (> <) Bunny and Bunnina have worked things out. Bunny was mistaken after all, Bunnina was not having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang

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