Coral ID, please?

  • Thread starter Thread starter JasonVH
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users None
TCK Corals
Jump to Last
JasonVH

JasonVH

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 14, 2022
Messages
140
Reaction score
92
Location
Highland
What state or country do you live in
California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
At LFS. Encrusts at the base for a fair bit. Very thick flattish branches. Dark color, looks almost black in person under their lighting(couldn't get pictures under white light). Pictures are of the same coral from the front and rear. Nobody at shop knew what it was other than 'stony coral' and is extremely hardy.

20230205_150440.jpg 20230205_150419.jpg
 
Tidal Gardens
View ReefStash's latest YouTube video!
Shibaken3 said:
cabbage coral?
Click to expand...

Want to say no.. it's definitely a stony coral. The stony cabbage corals seem too thin.. this coral's branches are Very thick. EDIT: Turns out this is a heliopora softie with the rare exception of forming a stony skeleton. Utterly surprised here.

However I want to thank you for ID on another coral in the shop! They also had leather cabbage corals.
 
Last edited:
Agree about the hardiness. Mine is just above the green leather and at least 25 years old. It’s been through hell and back :cool:
1675640177578.jpeg
1675640177578.jpeg
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
JasonVH said:
Yeah looks like it! And they're actually soft corals? The rare exception to forming a stony skeleton.. It looks so very much like a SPS of some kind! Much appreciated for the ID.
Click to expand...
Yes, I believe they are more related to soft corals, but it is hard for sure.
 
dwest said:
Agree about the hardiness. Mine is just above the green leather and at least 25 years old. It’s been through hell and back :cool:
1675640177578.jpeg
1675640177578.jpeg
Click to expand...

Very nice! I thought it was quite the attention grabber at the LFS. Seemed to stand out nicely among the SPS and some LPS in their display tank.

The owner repeatedly mentioned it's very strong, very hardy- good to get confirmation on that. I was surprised by a "SPS" described as that. So I got intrigued but now it makes sense as they fall under softies. Do they have the same potential issue of releasing toxins as some other leathers?
 
dwest said:
Yes, I believe they are more related to soft corals, but it is hard for sure.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this- quick google to compare had me confused. They really do "look SPS". That's why I posted pictures for ID under this sub forum, ha!
 
JasonVH said:
Very nice! I thought it was quite the attention grabber at the LFS. Seemed to stand out nicely among the SPS and some LPS in their display tank.

The owner repeatedly mentioned it's very strong, very hardy- good to get confirmation on that. I was surprised by a "SPS" described as that. So I got intrigued but now it makes sense as they fall under softies. Do they have the same potential issue of releasing toxins as some other leathers?
Click to expand...
That’s a great question. I don’t know. Mine easily covers other corals with new growth. That’s about the only “bad” thing I know of.
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
Can't kill it, grows like crazy,OG colony started at about 6"x 4" in 1993 ??, i have given enough away to fill a mini van... :oops:
I'll come back w some pics in a bit...:)
 
fishguy242 said:
Can't kill it, grows like crazy,OG colony started at about 6"x 4" in 1993 ??, i have given enough away to fill a mini van... :oops:
I'll come back w some pics in a bit...:)
Click to expand...
Would be great to see pics!

So I went back and picked up a frag. Don't have a QT and very nervous about putting the frag plug in even with judicious dipping. Perhaps not the best thing to do- cut it off so I could toss the frag plug. ID proven without a doubt- the skeleton is very blue/purplish! :)
 
Just a frag,circa 2005 ,in 75g tank
WP_20200817_06_10_05_Pro.jpg

V__197F.jpg
IMG_20230118_224212_647.jpg
IMG_20230118_050045_576.jpg
IMG_20230125_011553_065.jpg
IMG_20220710_020602_424.jpg

they make a good frag rack too... ;) :)
 
Top Shelf Aquatics
fishguy242 said:
Just a frag,circa 2005 ,in 75g tank

they make a good frag rack too... ;) :)
Click to expand...

Wow! Not kidding about "encrusting"! Interesting how it seems to do everything- columns, branches, encrusts and plates. Good to know some corals are able to touch it aside the potential of it taking over the "frag plug rack". ;)

Does the skeleton keep the blue color after drying out? Kept a piece to find out about that. Much appreciated for the amazing pictures! :)
 
Nutramar Foods
JasonVH said:
Wow! Not kidding about "encrusting"! Interesting how it seems to do everything- columns, branches, encrusts and plates. Good to know some corals are able to touch it aside the potential of it taking over the "frag plug rack". ;)

Does the skeleton keep the blue color after drying out? Kept a piece to find out about that. Much appreciated for the amazing pictures! :)
Click to expand...
ya' know 30 yrs, never dried any out, pretty sure needs to be sun bleached to turn the powder blue... ;)
but when fragged inside is blue.
 
fishguy242 said:
ya' know 30 yrs, never dried any out, pretty sure needs to be sun bleached to turn the powder blue... ;)
but when fragged inside is blue.
Click to expand...

I'll let you know! That piece is sitting OUTSIDE... don't want to deal with the stink lol
 
TCK Corals

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%

  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%

  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%

  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
See comments…

New Posts

Top Shelf Aquatics
Nutramar Foods
Chewy.com
World Wide Corals
Deltec
TCK Corals
Dinkins Aquatic Gardens
Tidal Gardens
New Posts
Back
Top