Difference between Montipora and Chalice corals

[Robert Binz]

So my understanding is that montis are SPS and have plating and encrusting varieties and Chalice corals are LPS with plating and encrusting varieties but I really can’t tell the difference between them

how do you differentiate the two?

 

[Saltyreef]

Skin, eyes, skeletal formation and growth. The two are very different. A chalice tends to have "meatier" skin and the eyes look to be part of the skin. Monti has distinct polyps that protrude from the skeleton almost like flowers.

 

[vpoiu1263]

You can look the chalice and monti closely.
There is no small polyps on the chalice.
But Montipora with it every where.

 

[ScottR]

Big difference to say the least. And it would depend on what type of montipora you are referring to exactly. I assume you’re talking about the encrusting type. But they come in branching and plating varieties as well. Monti will have small flower looking polyps whereas chalice have big mouths that almost look like eyes.

 

[Robert Binz]

Skin, eyes, skeletal formation and growth. The two are very different. A chalice tends to have "meatier" skin and the eyes look to be part of the skin. Monti has distinct polyps that protrude from the skeleton almost like flowers.

Gotcha! That’s how I did it originally but the tidal gardens episode showed what they called chalice with individual polyps and that threw me.

Thank you for the clarification!

 

[Robert Binz]

Everyone:

Is it accepted that chalice corals are *generally* easier to keep than montis regarding listing requirements and flow?

 

[Saltyreef]

Depends on what type of chalice. Ive grown chalices the size of dinner plates from one or two eyes. Some i cant even get to encrust a 3" plug.