acan??

mainereefer · Nov 30, 2011

took me longer than expected but with the help of a few online sellers and a few reef sites,
I have come up with this OULOPHYLLIA BENNETTAE mine looks aussi

Oulophyllia bennettae

IIsnake · Jan 26, 2012

I doubt it is a true Favia.
I think it is clearly a Goniastrea palauensis. (commonly called Prism Favia)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+8&ddid=142287

http://coral.aims.gov.au/speciesPages/species_metadata/0191/view

mainereefer · Jan 27, 2012

nope its not a favia I have had prisms and not even close this corals polyps grow almost flat and polyp size is 2-3x the size of any favia or prism I have ever seen

another thing every polyp has a spot to connect to the next

I still say it is this but hard to tell
http://shop.neptunescove.net/australomussa-Lime-neon-Green-md-australomussa-L-G-md.htm

IIsnake · Jan 28, 2012

mainereefer said:
nope its not a favia I have had prisms and not even close this corals polyps grow almost flat and polyp size is 2-3x the size of any favia or prism I have ever seen

another thing every polyp has a spot to connect to the next

I still say it is this but hard to tell
australomussa Lime/ neon Green (md)

Regardless of the other "prisms" that you have kept or looked at at your LFS, I think this coral has clearly grown atypically as it's still a small frag. Seeing as I'm one of multiple people saying that it looks like Goniastrea palauensis (prism favia) then perhaps you would be wise to not write off the input immediately. :neutral:

Are you judging the polyp size from the fully expanded tissue or from the skeletal size?

Every polyp is connected to the next? And so this makes you think it's an Australomussa? Sorry, but I think that's a stretch. Your frag looks far away from any Australomussa that I have ever seen, not to mention that I don't think it is a very commonly fragged species. Personally I wouldn't try to base and ID off of a vendor's image.

Australomussa rowleyensis

n

Corals of the World Factsheet and images - Australomussa rowleyensis

IIsnake · Feb 3, 2012

After looking around a little more I found this species which may be a contender...
Moseleya latistellata

skeleton shot for size reference:

It is listed as a similar species to G. palauensis, so the confusion seems warranted to me.

Corals of the World Factsheet and images - Moseleya latistellata
What do you think?

mainereefer · Feb 14, 2012

Australomussa rowleyensis? maybe.

its not a moon coral like the last pic

I've only been in the hobby for about 12-13 years but I have never seen anything like this!
could be a favia. if favia polyps were 3"+ so not that

the thing is this coral grows almost flat and polyps are large!! last night the biggest polyp opened to about 3" wide.
the pics I posted are with the polyps closed. when it is open it dosnt change shape at all just doubles in size

mainereefer · Jul 22, 2012

well it has grown some so thought I would try once again to find an id
here is the pic from last night. its only puffed up about half way

Degener8 · Jul 22, 2012

I am just curious. What kind of favia splits its eyes? I have never seen one that splits eyes only adds eyes in the new growth.
I am definately not an expert but the Australamusso you posted color wise looks dead on to the coral you originally posted. The way you describe the growth would seem to be in accordance with it also.

The eyes on yours do look more puffy and not sunken.. does it look like that all the time or are there periods where the eyes are sunken down?

mainereefer · Jul 22, 2012

the polyps are usually open. it isnt Australomussa it isnt favia
the last pic it is mad from me grabbing it when it was fully inflated and are trying to deflate. just trying to show how big this thing gets so ppl can stop calling it a favia

it usually just looks like normal open polyps

Degener8 · Jul 22, 2012

what ever it is its beautiful thats for sure.

Paul C. · Jul 22, 2012

I would go with Oulophyllia. I have one...only seen it open a few times. I have almost discarded it several times bc it doesn't open much. Got mine tucked under a over hang, and seems to be doing ok...