Gorgonian ID

[shred5]

Here’s some clearer pictures of it

Man I do not know. It look Azoox to me and like a Menella sp.
Is the body white like the picture shows.
I may have to break out a book and see.
I keep a ton of gorgonia but stay away from azoox because of the care they require. I have had a azoox aquarium in the past and thought about one in the future. They come in so rarely because of how hard they are to keep there is little info except on a few.

 

[Alexopora]

I’m not sure why the pictures turns out white but the gorgonian is actually light yellow with light purple polyps.

 

[Alexopora]

Man I do not know. It look Azoox to me and like a Menella sp.
Is the body white like the picture shows.
I may have to break out a book and see.
I keep a ton of gorgonia but stay away from azoox because of the care they require. I have had a azoox aquarium in the past and thought about one in the future. They come in so rarely because of how hard they are to keep there is little info except on a few.

Here’s another picture. This one was taken by my dealer.

 

[shred5]

I’m not sure why the pictures turns out white but the gorgonian is actually light yellow with light purple polyps.

I am terrible at trying to get correct colors when I take pictures. Mine are never even close even with filters or adjustments in photo software. Certainly is a nice looking gorgonian.

If the body is yellow it is most likely Azoox .

 

[Alexopora]

I am terrible at trying to get correct colors when I take pictures. Mine are never even close even with filters or adjustments in photo software. Certainly is a nice looking gorgonian.

If the body is yellow it is most likely Azoox .

Just to double check, azoox means non-photosynthetic right?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Here’s some clearer pictures of it

I'm curious but in natural daylight, are the polyps like a light blue not like the blueberry gorgonian, but like this

 

[shred5]

Just to double check, azoox means non-photosynthetic right?

Yes.

 

[Alexopora]

I'm curious but in natural daylight, are the polyps like a light blue not like the blueberry gorgonian, but like this

The polyps are still purplish.

 

[LisaAP]

I am pretty sure that Lisa's is Diodogorgia from the Caribbean. Judging from the color of the main branch, the raised calyces(the polyp base) and the very large polyps. When the polyps retract, if you see dark bumps where the polyps were, then that it confirms it. It is non-photosynthetic.

It's hard to tell from the photos because there is no scale reference, the polyps are quite small. I don't currently have any photos with the polyps retracted, I will rectify that tomorrow, but I wouldn't say the calyces are particularly raised. Here is a photo taken the day I recieved the frags perhaps it shows the structure better.

 

[Craigdoc]

I got the same gorgonian as Lisa off the same reefer.

Here's a picture of it with no polyps if that helps, sorry not the best picture

 

[LisaAP]

I got the same gorgonian as Lisa off the same reefer.

Here's a picture of it with no polyps if that helps, sorry not the best picture

Great pic, we can see a Diodogorgia in the background for reference. The branches are much chunkier and polyps a lot bigger than our unknown.

 

[dennis romano]

Boy, they are really different. Gotta look through my coral book. Lol

 

[Apollo7235]

I was browsing World Wide Corals, saw this, and thought of you. Looks like an exact match to me

Red Non-Photosynthetic Diodogorgia Gorgonia

Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image. Fully conditioned and ready for life in the aquarium! These must be target fed an SPS food a minimum of 2x per week.

worldwidecorals.com

 

[LisaAP]

I was browsing World Wide Corals, saw this, and thought of you. Looks like an exact match to me

Red Non-Photosynthetic Diodogorgia Gorgonia

Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image. Fully conditioned and ready for life in the aquarium! These must be target fed an SPS food a minimum of 2x per week.

worldwidecorals.com

Thanks, I think the Diodogorgia have much bigger polyps than the one that I've got, but to be fair I've never seen one in person so I may be wrong.

 

[najer]

My leaning would also be manella sp.

 

[shred5]

Thanks, I think the Diodogorgia have much bigger polyps than the one that I've got, but to be fair I've never seen one in person so I may be wrong.

You are correct plus the branches are thicker.
Scale just does not show up in pictures.

 

[Craigdoc]

My leaning would also be manella sp.

Lisa has a menella, I'm not sure what her thoughts are on it being a menella sp, I've got the gold and what I believe is a purple mellena unless someone want to ID the purple one for me

The gorgonian that Lisa is trying to get a ID on certainly has polyps close to the same size as mellena polyps but there seems to be a slight difference to me when looking at them in person, but I'm awful at ID's so anything is possible

 

[LisaAP]

Lisa has a menella, I'm not sure what her thoughts are on it being a menella sp, I've got the gold and what I believe is a purple mellena unless someone want to ID the purple one for me

The gorgonian that Lisa is trying to get a ID on certainly has polyps close to the same size as mellena polyps but there seems to be a slight difference to me when looking at them in person, but I'm awful at ID's so anything is possible

Yes, I don't think it's Menella. There's not much out there to help with identifying gorgonian species at least not that I have found so far. For SPS/LPS there is the awesome Corals of the World by Veron but for softies.... Is there a good reference for gorgonian ID available?

 

[JLavy]

Here’s mine. Yellow with purple polyps.

Did you find out what this is and if it’s photosynthetic?? I have one too! It’s doing really well so far and I feed it daily but I’m not sure what it is.

 

[Alexopora]

Did you find out what this is and if it’s photosynthetic?? I have one too! It’s doing really well so far and I feed it daily but I’m not sure what it is.

Ahh, the person who sold me the gorgonian confirmed that it’s non-photosynthetic. I think you are already on the right track.