ID question

[sculpin01]

I purchased this as a “Porites” from UC a year ago. It recently hit its stride and is growing rapidly. Each polyp has 12 tentacles and to me this appears to be a short polyped Alveopora (possibly marionensis or minuta). Polyp length is approximately 1 cm. Any thoughts?

 

[blaxsun]

It's a very nice coral.

 

[bnord]

looks a lot like a Bernardapora (different color) that did the same for me, sat there for 3-4 months and then took off
photo coming

 

[sculpin01]

I agree, but half the number of tentacles that Bernardpora has (12 vs 24), leading me to think it's a short polyped Alveopora. No Porites that look like that that I'm aware of at least.

Here's UC's sales pic for comparison:

 

[encrustingacro]

looks a lot like a Bernardapora (different color) that did the same for me, sat there for 3-4 months and then took off
photo coming

Definitely not a bernardpora. True bernardporas are almost never seen in the hobby and look like this:

 

[BranchingHammer]

Based off polyp extension and the clubbed appearance of tentacle tips, my first guess would be alveopora. It could still be a porites under high flow that presents longer polyps...

 

[encrustingacro]

Based off polyp extension and the clubbed appearance of tentacle tips, my first guess would be alveopora. It could still be a porites under high flow that presents longer polyps...

probably not porites either, as porites have thin, spiky tentacles on their polyps.

 

[sculpin01]

I agree. I'm not familiar with any long polyped Porites.

Given that this coral is growing like a weed, I really wish I could find additional examples. If anyone runs across such, post them here, please!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I agree. I'm not familiar with any long polyped Porites.

Given that this coral is growing like a weed, I really wish I could find additional examples. If anyone runs across such, post them here, please!

Appears to be a short tentacle alveopora.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Almost identical to this...

Google Search

www.google.com

 

[sculpin01]

I agree!

 

[sculpin01]

Alveopora spongiosa may be a better candidate, based on these pics from Veron:

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/media/images/0086_C01_06.jpg

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/media/images/0086_C04_01.jpg

 

[encrustingacro]

Alveopora spongiosa may be a better candidate, based on these pics from Veron:

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/media/images/0086_C01_06.jpg

http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/media/images/0086_C04_01.jpg

Could be, but COTW doesn’t mention polyp size, so the polyps of this species could be larger than you think.

 

[sculpin01]

True, but the pics seem to suggest shortish polyps like my example.

 

[encrustingacro]

True, but the pics seem to suggest shortish polyps like my example.

That is true. However, there are probably many other short-polyped Alveoporas out there.

 

[sculpin01]

Veron suggests several in fact.

I'd like to find another to add to my spawning system but the likelihood of that is pretty slim.