Red Hornet vs. Deep Waters

[Wy Renegade]

So what makes a Red Hornet a Red Hornet? I have two different deepwater zoas, both of which display similar color patterns to the Red Hornet, although neither seems to be as bright as the pictures of Red Hornets that I've seen. I'll have to work on getting some better pictures of each of these.

 

[MarvinsReef]

interesting...

 

[MikeB]

I think the main thing is the alternating skirts.

 

[650-IS350]

I think since the 1st purple hornet came out, everyone and their grandma feels that just cause a polyp has a ring on the disk it's a hornet or a morph. Folks forget that in this hobby we've had polyps for a long time now that have rings on the disk, some more prominent, larger, thicker etc.. than others.

Not saying the OP's is or isn't. I'm seeing this more and more not just on this site but on other forums as well.

Don't get me wrong those are 2 decent peices that will acutally look better in time as they color up more.

 

[Nanofins]

Well, I don't know that Red Hornet vs. Deepwater is the right distinction to make. Technically, the deepwater zoas coming into the hobby are coming from the same area as the red hornets and purple hornets, so there may not really be a difference on that level. The hornets are simply some of the more "remarkable" specimens to be amongst these imports from Java and/or Kupang.

 

[Sikryd]

If the touted RH's are as BRIGHT and VIBRANT as the True PH's then they are different and worth the money.

I'd love to see a side-by-side shot for comparison. I'd pick some up if they are as nice as true Ph's.

 

[Wy Renegade]

I think since the 1st purple hornet came out, everyone and their grandma feels that just cause a polyp has a ring on the disk it's a hornet or a morph. Folks forget that in this hobby we've had polyps for a long time now that have rings on the disk, some more prominent, larger, thicker etc.. than others.

Not saying the OP's is or isn't. I'm seeing this more and more not just on this site but on other forums as well.

Don't get me wrong those are 2 decent peices that will acutally look better in time as they color up more.

LOL; trust me, I'm not claiming to have Red Hornets, I'm simply curious as to the distinction. I know that the Purple Hornets have alternating skirts, and I know that some of the Purple Hornets have very vibrant colors (like Marvin's), while others, not so much.

The second picture is colored up as much as it gets - I originally aquired the morph off of a Pipe Organ frag about 15 years ago, then recently reaquired the same zoa as a "deepwater" zoa about 6 months ago. I believe it is very similar to the Purple-Hearted Red Ring zoa, but with a red skirt rather than a green skirt. The first one was aquired about 6 months ago, and I've had it on the sandbed under a 250w MH - the colors on it have actually faded/changed as a result of the light. It actually appears almost totaly blue to the naked eye. I've found this to be fairly common with deepwaters. I had one zoa that was similar to, but much brighter than Eagle Eye/Whammin Watermelon, that when over exposed to light became a Purple-hearted zoa. I just recently moved the portion pictured off the main colony and into the shade.

I asked the question simply because I was curious if the Red Hornet followed the same rules for identification as the Purple/Blue hornet.

Like you, I don't believe that the Reds' are nearly as rare as some people would like us to believe and that at least in part, its an issue of lighting. JMO

Well, I don't know that Red Hornet vs. Deepwater is the right distinction to make. Technically, the deepwater zoas coming into the hobby are coming from the same area as the red hornets and purple hornets, so there may not really be a difference on that level. The hornets are simply some of the more "remarkable" specimens to be amongst these imports from Java and/or Kupang.

So what you are saying, is that its a matter of supper vivid color. Than my questions becomes, if the colors fade under bright lighting is it no longer a Red Hornet?

 

[Nanofins]

So what you are saying, is that its a matter of supper vivid color. Than my questions becomes, if the colors fade under bright lighting is it no longer a Red Hornet?

I don't know that I was really addressing that point. I was simply pointing out that the term Deepwater Zoa is actually referring to a grouping of zoas being exported out of Kupang/Java, and that the Red Hornets and Purple Hornets are also being exported out of the same place, and that some of the red hornets have even come in with shipments of deepwaters, and so asking whether it's a Red Hornet or a Deepwater Zoa isn't necessarily the right question to be asking. They aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I promise the you the RH is bright! I was a skeptic too until I got a polyp.

 

[Sikryd]

I promise the you the RH is bright! I was a skeptic too until I got a polyp.

Pics Rev pics!!! :nerd:

That's the only reason I am skepticle is because I haven't seen it is all. That and I have bought wayyyyyyyy too many photoshopped corals only to find out they look better in the trash. :cry:

When you get a chance, a picture with some other brighter zoa's, or the ph's would cool.

I truely just want to see what it looks like. Not to judge and say it isn't what it seems. (Just for those that don't know me, or my posts aren't "read" with my intent of me just being curious to see if the hype is warranted)

 

[Wy Renegade]

I don't know that I was really addressing that point. I was simply pointing out that the term Deepwater Zoa is actually referring to a grouping of zoas being exported out of Kupang/Java, and that the Red Hornets and Purple Hornets are also being exported out of the same place, and that some of the red hornets have even come in with shipments of deepwaters, and so asking whether it's a Red Hornet or a Deepwater Zoa isn't necessarily the right question to be asking. They aren't mutually exclusive.

Gotcha - certainly there are a number of the "Deep Waters" which are now "officially" named.

I promise the you the RH is bright! I was a skeptic too until I got a polyp.

I don't know that I'm being a skeptic Rev, just curious. I've found the "Deep Waters" to be much more affected by lighting than "normal" zoas, so I'm just curious. It will be interesting to see if those intense polyps maintain their intensity over an extended period.

 

[Nanofins]

I don't know that I'm being a skeptic Rev, just curious. I've found the "Deep Waters" to be much more affected by lighting than "normal" zoas, so I'm just curious. It will be interesting to see if those intense polyps maintain their intensity over an extended period.

I would agree with you there. I have a few different morphs of deepwaters, and I have multiple pieces I've fragged and put in different areas of my tanks, and each piece looks a little different, even when taken from the same colony.

Here's an example:

The "Fruitloops" deepwater zoa. First under PC's, the second under 4 T-5's.

 

[650-IS350]

they're also prone to pox, temp fluctations and fungus

 

[ddiver]

Chad, Makoy already posted comparison. Pics in the RH thread by Eggie. ..

Pics Rev pics!!! :nerd:

That's the only reason I am skepticle is because I haven't seen it is all. That and I have bought wayyyyyyyy too many photoshopped corals only to find out they look better in the trash. :cry:

When you get a chance, a picture with some other brighter zoa's, or the ph's would cool.

I truely just want to see what it looks like. Not to judge and say it isn't what it seems. (Just for those that don't know me, or my posts aren't "read" with my intent of me just being curious to see if the hype is warranted)

 

[Sikryd]

Chad, Makoy already posted comparison. Pics in the RH thread by Eggie. ..

FINALLY saw it. Thanks!

It definitely looks different than the ones I have had in the past.

They look like they have potential for sure. Too many LED/ACTINIC picture to tell for sure.

Of course if it was in my tank I could really :nerd: oggle it and tell even better

 

[nayrgaijin]

Wow Zack that's a huge difference !

 

[650-IS350]

mine also displayed a big variable difference from under cheap T5s to under 250mh 14ks.

 

[eggie]

FINALLY saw it. Thanks!

It definitely looks different than the ones I have had in the past.

They look like they have potential for sure. Too many LED/ACTINIC picture to tell for sure.

Of course if it was in my tank I could really :nerd: oggle it and tell even better

Makoy pics were under Mh only and mine were under leds and T5

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Here are some deepwaters that changed for me. The smaller frag was under high light.

 

[650-IS350]

looked like the smaller frag bleached a bit