How do you id a Zoa/Paly?

ficklefins · Dec 4, 2009

I was wondering what criteria you folks use to ID a zoa/paly when another member posts a pic?

As much detail as you can muster would be great.

ca2or · Dec 4, 2009

I go to Coralpedia formally Zoaid.com and compare posted pic with thier database.
CoralPedia.com! :: The definitive repository for named Corals!

ca2or · Dec 4, 2009

They do more than zoa's but that link is for the zoa's and paly's.

Sikryd · Dec 4, 2009

I try and I.D stuff I either have/had. Then I compare brightness, color, markings, ect.
I also try to take into account that they are probably under a little different lighting and parameters.
From my experience though, aquacultured named zoa's don't change a whole LOT from tank to tank - at least most of them. Some do of course - especially when put in unique scenarios.

ficklefins · Dec 4, 2009

ca2or said:
I go to Coralpedia formally Zoaid.com and compare posted pic with thier database.
CoralPedia.com! :: The definitive repository for named Corals!

I probably should have been a bit more clean in my first post. So what do you look for in the pics? Patterns, skirt differences, striations on the oral disc, mouth color, unique markings?

inactive · Dec 4, 2009

Coralpedia is a horrible ref for zoa names.

650-IS350 · Dec 4, 2009

Patterns, skirt differences, striations on the oral disc, mouth color, unique markings?
__________________ Pretty much there.. you can always have different morphs of the SAME polyp.

thomasdo87 · Dec 4, 2009

i think its too subjective. as in most people just try to find similarities in coloration and markings of the skirt, mouth, body and what not. its pretty hard to be objective, since there are so many similar ones that could be the same but just because of the conditions provided by everyone is different.

650-IS350 · Dec 4, 2009

Lighting ( PC, T5s, MH, MIX, LED, HID ), tank parameters, flow etc all contribute on the look of a particular polyp in ones tank compared to another, as a previously mentioned, this will affect the look, size, lenght, brightness, dullness, color, pattern ( flecks, spots, blotching, darkening, bleaching etc ).