How Do You Get to Name a Coral?

[ritter6788]

Who gets to name a coral and why? I see lots of frags for sale with a name but are discredited for not having lineage but what if I buy a named coral with lineage can I change the name to whatever I want?

Can I buy an Acro from my LFS, frag it and call it whatever I want? If I buy a Jason Fox chalice can I rename it Ritter's chalice? It's still the same chalice, with a different name but would be much less valuable I assume. If I had an (identical to) Bowser Zoa could I call it a King Koopa Zoa and resell it as such or would I be bashed for renaming a named Zoa?

Not that I'd do any of this, just curious on naming corals and how others view named corals.

 

[KoleTang]

It's kind of system of respecting the other party enough to not rename the coral. It is enforced unofficially by the masses that will bash you for it. The system works out pretty well IMO.

Anyone can name a coral. But to be successful you usually have to be: Well known, reputable, make a good name, have a nice/fancy piece of coral.

If the coral is un-named then you most likely can name it. Especially if it is just from an average LFS that does not name corals. If it is from a reputable LFS that names corals, don't mes with them! If it is from another hobbyist. It is probably a good idea to be polite and ask them if it is OK with them.

If a "named coral" is for sale without lineage. It could very well be a look-a-like. Similar to collecting anything else. There are always knock-offs/fakes.

 

[returnofsid]

Scientific name...discover it. Made up name...make up a name lol

 

[buddythelion]

For me, names go with any coral that has any demand. The reason for this is because going around asking for "Pink *******" or "Candy Apple Reds" etc is much easier than asking for a pink chalice or a red and orange zoa. Not everything needs a name though. I see people naming brown zoas just because they want it to have a name. But who goes around asking for some plain brown zoas or a green disco? That's when it gets a bit out of hand.

The names go with exceptional pieces, corals that stand out from other ones. That's why the majority of acans in the hobby don't have names, but the ones that do are because they're exceptional and have distinct patterns and colors that make them stand out from the rest (tokyo tart, highlighters, etc)

As for lineage, I guess it matters, but I don't care much for it. It helps with the selling/reselling part. For me, if it looks nice isn't that enough? Unless if the coral you're about to get doesn't have full color potential in someone else's tank and they say it's the same as something else, then lineage does help.

 

[Jgomez324]

In that case i bought this from a LFS what should I call it?

I was think Sago Palm Mili?

 

[Rick]

That's just a green milli that needs to color up... the purpose of naming is that the coral is first off unique enough to get a name, plain greens and whatnot are dime a dozen as maricultures therefore if u were to name it people could knock it off to easy and flood the market driving the price down. Contrasting colors are what you want red&green, red& gold, blue w/green ect

 

[watchguy123]

Uniqueness is what allows or gives permission for the naming process. Like returnofsid said, if you make a scientific discovery, then you get to name it because it is unique and never seen before.

Lieneage is another matter. I understand that when we buy a named or LE piece, we are expecting it to be a match in color, growth, sturdiness, etc. But we don't test for lineage so it is an honor system to respect the hopeful authenticity of the frag we are either buying, selling or photographing. But the reality is, if it looks like, smells like and walks like, do you really need anything else to validate that it is a duck. Perhaps...

As a buyer of lots of frags, I have discovered people confuse their frags and may unintentionally or intentionally misrepresent a named frag. I do not really care about the DNA of the frag, I just want it to look like, grow like and be sturdy like the frag I was promised. given all that, I hate getting a frag that cost a bundle, is tiny, looks brown and is supposed to be something spectacular and it never ever is going to be colorful and spectacular(not because of my reef caring capabilities) because it is not what was represented. I have tried to map out all my coral frag purchases in my tank, but like others, I do get mixed up about what went where and then if I moved it. So I know most of my named stuff, but somethings have lost their name in my tank and maybe I should just rename them #1, #2, #3 etc. And I have picked up some unique, atleast to me, looking corals and I just have not found a need to name them. But it is pretty amazing, that it seems every week, vendors have lots of new named pieces, never heard of before or sometimes very similar looking to other named pieces. This is a hobby and bragging rights are a big deal. And this is a business to some, and bragging rights are a big deal. I'm just happy when polyps are extended and my tank inhabitants smile back at me (that could be allegorical or metaphorical, are those really words)

 

[buddythelion]

Uniqueness is what allows or gives permission for the naming process. Like returnofsid said, if you make a scientific discovery, then you get to name it because it is unique and never seen before.

Lieneage is another matter. I understand that when we buy a named or LE piece, we are expecting it to be a match in color, growth, sturdiness, etc. But we don't test for lineage so it is an honor system to respect the hopeful authenticity of the frag we are either buying, selling or photographing. But the reality is, if it looks like, smells like and walks like, do you really need anything else to validate that it is a duck. Perhaps...

As a buyer of lots of frags, I have discovered people confuse their frags and may unintentionally or intentionally misrepresent a named frag. I do not really care about the DNA of the frag, I just want it to look like, grow like and be sturdy like the frag I was promised. given all that, I hate getting a frag that cost a bundle, is tiny, looks brown and is supposed to be something spectacular and it never ever is going to be colorful and spectacular(not because of my reef caring capabilities) because it is not what was represented. I have tried to map out all my coral frag purchases in my tank, but like others, I do get mixed up about what went where and then if I moved it. So I know most of my named stuff, but somethings have lost their name in my tank and maybe I should just rename them #1, #2, #3 etc. And I have picked up some unique, atleast to me, looking corals and I just have not found a need to name them. But it is pretty amazing, that it seems every week, vendors have lots of new named pieces, never heard of before or sometimes very similar looking to other named pieces. This is a hobby and bragging rights are a big deal. And this is a business to some, and bragging rights are a big deal. I'm just happy when polyps are extended and my tank inhabitants smile back at me (that could be allegorical or metaphorical, are those really words)

Well said!

 

[Jgomez324]

That's just a green milli that needs to color up... the purpose of naming is that the coral is first off unique enough to get a name, plain greens and whatnot are dime a dozen as maricultures therefore if u were to name it people could knock it off to easy and flood the market driving the price down. Contrasting colors are what you want red&green, red& gold, blue w/green ect

I like that, good advice!!!

 

[GoNextLevel]

Uniqueness is what allows or gives permission for the naming process. Like returnofsid said, if you make a scientific discovery, then you get to name it because it is unique and never seen before.

Lieneage is another matter. I understand that when we buy a named or LE piece, we are expecting it to be a match in color, growth, sturdiness, etc. But we don't test for lineage so it is an honor system to respect the hopeful authenticity of the frag we are either buying, selling or photographing. But the reality is, if it looks like, smells like and walks like, do you really need anything else to validate that it is a duck. Perhaps...

As a buyer of lots of frags, I have discovered people confuse their frags and may unintentionally or intentionally misrepresent a named frag. I do not really care about the DNA of the frag, I just want it to look like, grow like and be sturdy like the frag I was promised. given all that, I hate getting a frag that cost a bundle, is tiny, looks brown and is supposed to be something spectacular and it never ever is going to be colorful and spectacular(not because of my reef caring capabilities) because it is not what was represented. I have tried to map out all my coral frag purchases in my tank, but like others, I do get mixed up about what went where and then if I moved it. So I know most of my named stuff, but somethings have lost their name in my tank and maybe I should just rename them #1, #2, #3 etc. And I have picked up some unique, atleast to me, looking corals and I just have not found a need to name them. But it is pretty amazing, that it seems every week, vendors have lots of new named pieces, never heard of before or sometimes very similar looking to other named pieces. This is a hobby and bragging rights are a big deal. And this is a business to some, and bragging rights are a big deal. I'm just happy when polyps are extended and my tank inhabitants smile back at me (that could be allegorical or metaphorical, are those really words)

If I wanted to start my own coral brand and start selling online if I buy high end corals named with lineage and then grow them out over years and resell them under my brand for example would that be wrong? Cause at that point it is aquacultured with my tank environment lights care etc?

 

[Chrisv.]

Yes. It would be wrong.

If I wanted to start my own coral brand and start selling online if I buy high end corals named with lineage and then grow them out over years and resell them under my brand for example would that be wrong? Cause at that point it is aquacultured with my tank environment lights care etc?

 

[Chrisv.]

Also, this thread is from 2012.

 

[GoNextLevel]

Yes. It would be wrong.

What’s the best way to do this then?

 

[Chrisv.]

What’s the best way to do this then?

Most ethically? I'd say you need to bring in wild colonies, find the ones that color up the best over about 6 months, then frag them, then see which maintain color on grow out for another 6 months, then frag again and sell with a name if you think you found something with naming that isn't just a wild collected form of an already known strain of a coral.

 

[elorablue]

Most ethically? I'd say you need to bring in wild colonies, find the ones that color up the best over about 6 months, then frag them, then see which maintain color on grow out for another 6 months, then frag again and sell with a name if you think you found something with naming that isn't just a wild collected form of an already known strain of a coral.

Yes, this would be the way to do it. However, there really aren’t any rules to this. No copyrights no trademarks no ownership. Plus for example, there are many Acropora Tenuis out there that go under different names that are virtually identical.
I have a couple of Acros that I bought as ‘unknown Acro’. When they grow out and I frag them I will most certainly give them a name before I sell or give them away.

 

[Darren in Tacoma]

Is the naming of corals really ethical when using names like Twizzlers, Froot Loops, Space Invaders, etc that are probably already trademarked?

 

[Chrisv.]

Is the naming of corals really ethical when using names like Twizzlers, Froot Loops, Space Invaders, etc that are probably already trademarked?

I mean, one could use a non sensational naming system. Maybe even one that was informative. Not everything has to sound like it was named by a 16 year old.

 

[elorablue]

Is the naming of corals really ethical when using names like Twizzlers, Froot Loops, Space Invaders, etc that are probably already trademarked?

Precisely. I’ve often wondered how they get away with that.

 

[ChiCity]

Who gets to name a coral and why?

 

[attiland]

Who gets to name a coral and why? I see lots of frags for sale with a name but are discredited for not having lineage but what if I buy a named coral with lineage can I change the name to whatever I want?

Can I buy an Acro from my LFS, frag it and call it whatever I want? If I buy a Jason Fox chalice can I rename it Ritter's chalice? It's still the same chalice, with a different name but would be much less valuable I assume. If I had an (identical to) Bowser Zoa could I call it a King Koopa Zoa and resell it as such or would I be bashed for renaming a named Zoa?

Not that I'd do any of this, just curious on naming corals and how others view named corals.

I name this Cherry Blossom Kenya

and this one Winter Blue Candy

this is how it is done.