Green/Turquoise Acro ID

Eli J. · Jan 22, 2013

This was appropriately labeled "Acro" at the LFS where I picked it up. Anyone know what species it is or its trade name? Thanks

Frick · Jan 22, 2013

It looks maricultured and there is no lineage so it can't have a show name.

For a species my first guess is Acropora azurea. The tips are very similar, and the corallites are the pretty close.
Corals of the World Factsheet and images - Acropora azurea

Maybe appressa if it tables.
Corals of the World Factsheet and images - Acropora appressa

Eli J. · Jan 22, 2013

Interesting. The LFS said it actually grew from a frag in one of their clients tanks, but it easily could have been purchased as a maricultured colony before that. Speaking of "show names" how does one give it a show name? Just name it and sell frags hoping it sticks? Thanks for the species ID!

KoleTang · Jan 22, 2013

Eli J. said:
Interesting. The LFS said it actually grew from a frag in one of their clients tanks, but it easily could have been purchased as a maricultured colony before that. Speaking of "show names" how does one give it a show name? Just name it and sell frags hoping it sticks? Thanks for the species ID!

To get a name to stick and have it be a popular coral you have to have some serious reputation in the hobby. It takes time, work, and patience to get rep. But it is still fun to name things even if only your local reefer friends honor the name.

Frick · Jan 24, 2013

Sort of. The way to build a reputation is to perfect the corals care. This takes time. When you get a colony looking really nice that it can't look any better and it is unique, people will want it with a passion. And if you give it a name to distinguish it's unique lineage then you have made a named coral. It's unique + perfect coloration and growth = Show name.

Now on the flip side if you find some thing similar to an existing name and tag it on there you could end up taking care of the coral wrong and killing it or the people you pass it to with that name could kill it. Falsifying a show name is harmful IMO and i do not respect anyone that does this. If it doesn't come with a show name then i would try to find the closest species name.

Isoprene · Jan 24, 2013

Not to hijack a thread by any means but @ Frick, is their any true way (other than buying from the source directly) to source lineage, like Purple Monster for example? Or is it just that, buy from the source or dont name it as such?

Frick · Jan 24, 2013

Isoprene said:
Not to hijack a thread by any means but @ Frick, is their any true way (other than buying from the source directly) to source lineage, like Purple Monster for example? Or is it just that, buy from the source or dont name it as such?

That's it a good question. Personally i have friends that i trust to pass the lineage, so i pass the name. And i have others that.....well i take what they say with a grain of salt and a splash of interceptor if you know what i mean. Weather it be a store online vendor or who ever, trust your gut. Typically, if the seller must give me a story about the coral or frag they cared about it enough to keep the lineage going.