Monti Danae - Odd color patches

conix67 · Mar 19, 2020

I think this is a Monti Danae, teal color with purple polyps. It's a hardy coral and survived all ups and downs of my tank over the years. What's interesting is that it has developed patches of bright orange colors and spread at some point but not very quickly. Does anyone know how to explain this? Not that I'm complaining, bright orange is always nice color to add..

close up..

Copingwithpods · Mar 20, 2020

Just a color morph, time to frag it, give it a cool designer name and price it in the triple digits.

StatelineReefer · Mar 20, 2020

If you look closely, you can see where more of those color bands are starting to form. Whatever you're doing, keep it up, it will be nice to see how this one colors up under your lighting and parameters...

najer · Mar 20, 2020

As above, it will be interesting to see how it turns out, very nice!

Redfoxtang · Mar 20, 2020

Very interesting!! Like what was said above looking closely I can see the orange trickling in other spots.

ThePurple12 · Mar 20, 2020

Keep us updated!

Graffiti Spot · Mar 20, 2020

Looks like the acro next to it must have touched it at some point maybe and left a pigment infection. Is it green in natural light? Normally thoes infections are green but seems recently a few people are seeing yellow and orange colors too but it could just be all the blue light and filters messing with how the color looks.

conix67 · Mar 20, 2020

yes I would also like to know what would trigger this behaviour. It started when it was hung on the wall which means no other corals would touch it. I suspect it started when the tank had undesirable issues years ago..

Yes, it's green/teal in natural light.. the picture is taken under daylight setting

StatelineReefer · Mar 20, 2020

@Dana Riddle

Dana can probably weigh in better on whats happening here! I know I have a couple theories, but he is a coral and lighting expert, and can explain the processes happening in this montipora much better than I.

I will say, however, that your photo captures the difference in color and the new patterning VERY well, I commend you for properly lighting and balancing that photo.

Dana Riddle · Mar 20, 2020

conix67 said:
I think this is a Monti Danae, teal color with purple polyps. It's a hardy coral and survived all ups and downs of my tank over the years. What's interesting is that it has developed patches of bright orange colors and spread at some point but not very quickly. Does anyone know how to explain this? Not that I'm complaining, bright orange is always nice color to add..

close up..

what is that white patch? Could it be a corallivorous nudibranch? I've seen color changes in Porites corals when coral-munching predators were present. If not a nudi, I've done some research - Montis contain Clade C3 proteins. Need more info before commenting further. Thanks!

conix67 · Mar 20, 2020

Dana Riddle said:
what is that white patch? Could it be a corallivorous nudibranch? I've seen color changes in Porites corals when coral-munching predators were present. If not a nudi, I've done some research - Montis contain Clade C3 proteins. Need more info before commenting further. Thanks!

Sorry, that was some debris floating around, probably a piece from another SPS I was fragging.

Dana Riddle · Mar 20, 2020

conix67 said:
Sorry, that was some debris floating around, probably a piece from another SPS I was fragging.

OK, thanks. Many corals contain a protein that transitions from green to red (or red to green). Due to color mixing, this transition can appear yellow or yellow/orange.This could be due to light changes, pH modulations. metal concentrations, etc. However, the reason(s) for the local shifts in your coral seem obscure. Have any of these shifts occurred? Still searching for answers.