Found this washed up, and it's growing well - ID?

[betareef]

I found this washed up on the shore - just the single main branch and roots. I put in my aquarium and it is growing all these little side branches. Good sign?

Anyway, no idea what it is, but I like it. Nice, thick and glossy.

 

[cloak]

I think it's either Caulerpa taxifolia or Caulerpa mexicana. There should be all kinds of information online regarding these.

 

[betareef]

I think it's either Caulerpa taxifolia or Caulerpa mexicana. There should be all kinds of information online regarding these.

Thanks but the fronds are way thicker, darker, and glossier than those Caulerpa species (which I have had in the past)

 

[betareef]

I think it's either Caulerpa taxifolia or Caulerpa mexicana. There should be all kinds of information online regarding these.

Thanks but the fronds are way thicker, darker, and glossier than those Caulerpa species (which I have had in the past)

Actually, after some more searching, I am finding a large variation in these algae. Maybe it is a variation of taxifolia.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

I found this washed up on the shore - just the single main branch and roots. I put in my aquarium and it is growing all these little side branches. Good sign?

Anyway, no idea what it is, but I like it. Nice, thick and glossy.

Definitely a Caulerpa species - the question's really just which one.

The tips of the "leaves" being rounded eliminates quite a few (C. taxifolia, C. mexicana, C. sertulariodes, C. scalpelliformis, etc.) - it leaves us with options like C. articulatus, C. ashmeadii, C. cactoides, etc.

The "stalk" of the algae looks pretty smooth for C. articulatus and C. cactoides, but maybe you can see if it has those "notches" in it that are typical of the species; the "leaves" look slightly too short and stubby for C. ashmeadii.

Anyway, with several dozen species in the genus, I would expect it to a Caulerpa species closely genetically related to C. articulatus, C. ashmeadii, C. cactoides, etc., but I'm not sure exactly which species it would be (I would guess it would fall into the "etc." category though).

 

[betareef]

Definitely a Caulerpa species - the question's really just which one.

The tips of the "leaves" being rounded eliminates quite a few (C. taxifolia, C. mexicana, C. sertulariodes, C. scalpelliformis, etc.) - it leaves us with options like C. articulatus, C. ashmeadii, C. cactoides, etc.

The "stalk" of the algae looks pretty smooth for C. articulatus and C. cactoides, but maybe you can see if it has those "notches" in it that are typical of the species; the "leaves" look slightly too short and stubby for C. ashmeadii.

Anyway, with several dozen species in the genus, I would expect it to a Caulerpa species closely genetically related to C. articulatus, C. ashmeadii, C. cactoides, etc., but I'm not sure exactly which species it would be (I would guess it would fall into the "etc." category though).

Yes, it looks "in-between" a few of them. I think I'll let it grow, for a while at least, and see what happens.

 

[goody]

Looks a lot like this one here

 

[betareef]

Looks a lot like this one here

Yes exactly like that.

 

[Tinnerito]

I found this washed up on the shore - just the single main branch and roots. I put in my aquarium and it is growing all these little side branches. Good sign?

Anyway, no idea what it is, but I like it. Nice, thick and glossy.

Ah! Thats the lobed bladed fern caulerpa that I've been looking for haha. I'm buying a cutting from my local seller soon, and its actually a rare, but very beautiful species! Not sure of the scientific name though. And you sure are lucky to get your hands on some because it is most likely some of the least known discovered species on the planet. You're the only person I've ever seen with one other than said seller, and the internet has not one photo nor a word of information.

 

[Tinnerito]

Yes exactly like that.

Thats the site I'm buying from lol. They sent me some more photos personally, and it looks exactly the same.