Anyone keeping RARE corals?

[ScottR]

Just curious if anyone is keeping rare corals. Corals that aren’t typically seen in the hobby, corals that are no longer in the trade, special corals, etc. Every time I go looking for something new, I run into the same corals. I can’t say I have anything special in my tank except for maybe a maricultured Indo monti before the ban. But even so, it’s just a monti... Let’s see pics!

 

[AZMSGT]

There are several people that do, but typically they post in the corals section.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Until Indo opens AND these return, because when Indo opens, more popular corals we will see first. I don't think anyone has this in USA, but Backwoods Lab. Bummer

 

[ScottR]

There are several people that do, but typically they post in the corals section.

The thing about the corals section is: it’s divided into SPS, LPS, softies and zoas. I wanted this to include all. I’m curious to see how much variety are kept and can be kept in our home systems beside the usual types we see. I’d say only a small percentage of corals worldwide are being kept by hobbyists at the moment.

 

[ScottR]

Until Indo opens AND these return, because when Indo opens, more popular corals we will see first. I don't think anyone has this in USA, but Backwoods Lab. Bummer

I knew you’d have some interesting ones! I’ve still only dipped my feet into the softies pool. If all my SPS dive off the deep end, I’m heading into softies.

 

[Auquanut]

Following. I've got some really nice corals, but they're just the normal stuff. It would be nice to see some really unique specimens without having to search. Bring them on!

 

[ca1ore]

Difficult to answer. Since the same coral can look very different under varied conditions, something that a reefer thinks is rare/unique probably isn’t. Perhaps one exception are the two acros from Florida. They’re rather drab, so weren’t all that popular even when you could get them so there isn’t an existing reservoir in the hobby. Even though some regions are closed to coral harvesting, in most cases there are existing reservoirs, so they may be hard to find at retail but they aren't rare in the hobby. The dendro softies are incredibly hard to get to keep, let alone thrive, so they’re probably rare in the hobby. But I don’t think many folks are pining for them.

 

[ScottR]

Difficult to answer. Since the same coral can look very different under varied conditions, something that a reefer thinks is rare/unique probably isn’t. Perhaps one exception are the two acros from Florida. They’re rather drab, so weren’t all that popular even when you could get them so there isn’t an existing reservoir in the hobby. Even though some regions are closed to coral harvesting, in most cases there are existing reservoirs, so they may be hard to find at retail but they aren't rare in the hobby. The dendro softies are incredibly hard to get to keep, let alone thrive, so they’re probably rare in the hobby. But I don’t think many folks are pining for them.

I recall 20 something years ago, I met a guy that also kept SW fish and I knew nothing about corals then. He had a handful of colonies in his tank that were astounding. I have no idea what they were but thinking back, they resemble nothing what I see in tanks these days.

 

[CasaReefer]

There are several people that do, but typically they post in the corals section.

Come On Man... Loosen Up... We just wanna talk... This post getting in the way of you drinkin your coffee....

 

[ca1ore]

I recall 20 something years ago, I met a guy that also kept SW fish and I knew nothing about corals then. He had a handful of colonies in his tank that were astounding. I have no idea what they were but thinking back, they resemble nothing what I see in tanks these days.

I was keeping a reef tank then and can recall nothing that was available then that isn't in the hobby now. In fact the coral selection is FAR better today. Perhaps your guy was keeping the aforementioned stag and elk horn corals. Latter would look very different, particularly if allowed to get some size.

 

[Waynerock]

Back when I started I had the “Basic” almost “trash corals” like Xmas tree worms and pipe organ. Now it’s very hard to find them let alone at good prices. Pipe organs are still cheeper but the cool colors are hard to get and Xmas tree rocks are Ridiculously expensive. I found a great pipe organ but still trying to find Xmas for less than 150 that has more than 30-50 worms on it. I guess that’s considered rare but I guess it all depends on when it is. Back in 2000 I had a Xmas rock the size of my head with uncountable worms In amazing colors and I would of thought any acro was super rare because not many of us could keep them for long let alone look pretty. I have a fondness for the stuff I had back in the day now a days. I tell he what’s real rare now a days is real live rock. The stuff we used to get with orange sponges all over it and the occasional mantis shrimp hiding inside. I never did anything to it besides throw it in the tank and watch the goodies come out of it.

 

[ScottR]

I was keeping a reef tank then and can recall nothing that was available then that isn't in the hobby now. In fact the coral selection is FAR better today. Perhaps your guy was keeping the aforementioned stag and elk horn corals. Latter would look very different, particularly if allowed to get some size.

This was on Oahu, Hawaii. We used to dive for our own fish and corals. People would take whatever they could basically. For corals, they were impossible for most to keep. The fish did pretty well but we had no idea how to feed them. We fed freshwater pellets or flakes. As for corals, it could be whatever was in the sea. Back then, there were no LFS selling much of anything except a few SW fish.

 

[ScottR]

Back when I started I had the “Basic” almost “trash corals” like Xmas tree worms and pipe organ. Now it’s very hard to find them let alone at good prices. Pipe organs are still cheeper but the cool colors are hard to get and Xmas tree rocks are Ridiculously expensive. I found a great pipe organ but still trying to find Xmas for less than 150 that has more than 30-50 worms on it. I guess that’s considered rare but I guess it all depends on when it is. Back in 2000 I had a Xmas rock the size of my head with uncountable worms In amazing colors and I would of thought any acro was super rare because not many of us could keep them for long let alone look pretty. I have a fondness for the stuff I had back in the day now a days. I tell he what’s real rare now a days is real live rock. The stuff we used to get with orange sponges all over it and the occasional mantis shrimp hiding inside. I never did anything to it besides throw it in the tank and watch the goodies come out of it.

Xmas tree rocks are amazing. There’s a LFS near me selling them but they’re a months salary just for one rock. That’d be a definite centerpiece in any tank.

 

[AZMSGT]

The thing about the corals section is: it’s divided into SPS, LPS, softies and zoas. I wanted this to include all. I’m curious to see how much variety are kept and can be kept in our home systems beside the usual types we see. I’d say only a small percentage of corals worldwide are being kept by hobbyists at the moment.

Yea, no one wants the ugly, pest, aggressive, etc ones..