Pagoda cup coral?

RLHam3 · Feb 15, 2014

So there are two pagoda cup corals at my LFS. Iâ€™ve decided that I really like this species, and I will probably end up getting one or the other, but I canâ€™t decide which one.

One is green and the other is pink. I like the color of the green one a lot better, but it doesnâ€™t appear to be as healthy as the other. The reason I say this is that I can only detect polyps on the green cup around the edges. There are no discernable polyps in the center. The pink one has the normal amount of polyps distributed equally around the cup. They both have had good polyp extension when I have seen them, it is just the number and distribution of polyps which concern me.

My question is: will new polyps grow and fill in this empty space on the green cup, or will this area of the coral remain empty?So there are two pagoda cup corals at my LFS. Iâ€™ve decided that I really like this species, and I will probably end up getting one or the other, but I canâ€™t decide which one.

One is green and the other is pink. I like the color of the green one a lot better, but it doesnâ€™t appear to be as healthy as the other. The reason I say this is that I can only detect polyps on the green cup around the edges. There are no discernable polyps in the center. The pink one has the normal amount of polyps distributed equally around the cup. They both have had good polyp extension when I have seen them, it is just the number and distribution of polyps which concern me.

My question is: will new polyps grow and fill in this empty space on the green cup, or will this area of the coral remain empty?

Tab28 · Feb 15, 2014

Pagoda are hardy as long as you perimeters are stable. I have a few and pagodas are prone to accumulating stuff in the centers do to their shape. And the extended polyps hold the stuff so water flow alone may not flush the stuff away. If you do not flush the stuff of it it will start to kill the flesh. I use a turkey baster every few days or so. Mine have healed the flesh but they never got to the point of killing the polyps. But i have had other corals that have stung an area killing the polyps. They healed and regrew. I would think if the one you prefer has an area in question i would ask what happened to that area. To be sure what caused the problem was not a virus. And also at a discounted price.

RLHam3 · Feb 18, 2014

Is this coral worth saving? I would have taken a picture of the other one, but it was already sold:-(

Nobody at the store remembers what originally caused this recession.

Tab28 · Feb 18, 2014

Well whatever caused the damage was awhile ago. It also looks like the receding has stopped since there is no white showing. It will survive as long as your tank is better than where ever it came from. It looks like it came from a neglected tank. The lack of polyps seems that it may have been a growing issue. Usually the pagodas have so many big polyps you can not see the body skin. It will need some TLC. If the dead portions were removed it would heal better. Here is a picture of mine.