ID help please. Live Rock Bonus

[Geikster]

ID help? This came in on a piece of TBS live rock. Anyone know what it might be? Sponge or Coral? In whiter light it has maroon body and green “polyps” or sections

 

[encrustingacro]

Looks like some sort of Stony coral. I don't know what though. Most of us aquarists probably won't know what this coral is, as we are not that familiar with Atlantic stony corals since almost none of the stony corals in the hobby come from the Atlantic.

 

[Reefing102]

That’s got some good color you don’t usually see in Atlantic stony corals. With that said, it’s likely a type of Siderastrea sp. or perhaps Madracis mirabilis. A clearer picture under white light would likely be needed

 

[vetteguy53081]

ID help? This came in on a piece of TBS live rock. Anyone know what it might be? Sponge or Coral? In whiter light it has maroon body and green “polyps” or sections

A couple of months ago in Key West we saw lots of what looks like these and would be called Meandrina meandrites

 

[Geikster]

Great responses. I’ll look up some reference photos and report back if I can confirm.

 

[Geikster]

Reference Page: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA210

Looks like it could be possibly Orbicella Faveolata

Or a second option is a color variation of Orbicella Annularis

Or as @vetteguy53081 suggested Siderastrea Siderea. (My Bet as well)

In any case, its thriving well in my tank and reason 999 why getting live rock can be fun and educational.

Let's hope it does not grow to a large boulder shape as the research suggest. LOL!

Thanks all!

 

[encrustingacro]

A couple of months ago in Key West we saw lots of what looks like these and would be called Meandrina meandrites

Meandrina is meandering, while this coral is subplocoid.

That’s got some good color you don’t usually see in Atlantic stony corals. With that said, it’s likely a type of Siderastrea sp. or perhaps Madracis mirabilis. A clearer picture under white light would likely be needed

Madracis has way smaller polyps and Siderastrea are usually cerioid and don't have this large of tentacles.

Reference Page: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FA210

Looks like it could be possibly Orbicella Faveolata

Or a second option is a color variation of Orbicella Annularis

Or as @vetteguy53081 suggested Siderastrea Siderea. (My Bet as well)

In any case, its thriving well in my tank and reason 999 why getting live rock can be fun and educational.

Let's hope it does not grow to a large boulder shape as the research suggest. LOL!

Thanks all!

Orbicella has smaller tentacles and looks more like Cyphastrea. As for Siderastrea, see my reply to @Reefing102 's comment.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Meandrina is meandering, while this coral is subplocoid.

Madracis has way smaller polyps and Siderastrea are usually cerioid and don't have this large of tentacles.

Orbicella has smaller tentacles and looks more like Cyphastrea. As for Siderastrea, see my reply to @Reefing102 's comment.

I thought at first Favites, then cyphastrea but very different from my cyphastrea and meandrina. . . hmmmm

 

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At first thought it looks like a happy Great Star Coral,
Montastraea cavernosa...but on second look, maybe not.

 

[Geikster]

I

At first thought it looks like a happy Great Star Coral,
Montastraea cavernosa...but on second look, maybe not.

I will try to get some better pictures under white light tomorrow. Unfortunately, it's not in a great spot to get pictures with my phone camera. But we'll see what we can figure out.

 

[encrustingacro]

I thought at first Favites, then cyphastrea but very different from my cyphastrea and meandrina. . . hmmmm

Definitely not Cyphastrea or Favites, as those are limited to the Indo-Pacific. Also, how the heck did you get a meandrina? I'm pretty sure those are illegal to get, as they from the Atlantic.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Definitely not Cyphastrea or Favites, as those are limited to the Indo-Pacific. Also, how the heck did you get a meandrina? I'm pretty sure those are illegal to get, as they from the Atlantic.

As mentioned above , I saw them in Key West when snorkeling- I dont have one.

 

[encrustingacro]

As mentioned above , I saw them in Key West when snorkeling- I dont have one.

Oh

 

[jabberwock]

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