I think it's a favia, but...

thegunslinger · Dec 30, 2015

Bought this from a big box store (I know, shame on me, but it was $12) about 10 days ago. They had it labelled as a candy cane, but I'm pretty sure it's a favia. It has colored up a little since I bought it, turning red around the edges of the coralite walls. Am I right about it being a favia? If not, any idea what it is? Any tips on care?

Tab28 · Dec 31, 2015

Not a candy cane. Will have to take your word on it coloring up. It is very browned. Really didn't think there was any part of it still alive. But pictures many times can not tell true colors in corals. The skeleton shape does appear to be a favia type. Even if not I would keep it on the lower light side. When colored up more slightly increase it. Not too much light favia types are low light levels. Same as you would give a chalice.

thegunslinger · Dec 31, 2015

This is what it looks like now, after a 1.5 weeks in my tank. Starting to get some green in the center of the polyps, as well as the red around the edges.

Topside Reef · Dec 31, 2015

war coral (Favites pentagona)

thegunslinger · Jan 1, 2016

Topside Reef said:
war coral (Favites pentagona)

Thanks for the help, hopefully it colors up like some of the examples I found online.

thegunslinger · Jan 13, 2016

This coral had been doing a lot better, but not sure what is going on right now. Yesterday I did a little test on homemade food for my fish (cod, shrimp, octopus, silverside, mysis), who didn't really care for it. I did get a strong response from this guy and a new candy cane frag, with both extending tentacles. I decided to target feed them their usual concoction, which is reef nutrition arctic pods and Kent zooplankton. This is what it looks like this morning:

Not sure if this had anything to do with the feeding, will check both nitrate and phosphate when I get home. I'm at work and my wife sent me that pic. Any help would be appreciated, as this guy has come a long way and I'd hate to lose him.