Searching for Elkhorn coral - A. palmata

Picci · Oct 3, 2017

Hi guys,

I am searching for a frag of A. Palmata since long time ago.
I know it is forbidden to catch in the wild and trade as it is heavily endangered.

Any of you knows a conservation organization / university / biological survey institution looking for volunteers?
I would be happy to volunteer growing up Elkhorn coral for study or conservation purpose, to spread it, to help preserve the specie somehow.

Thanks for any tip/help !!!

JBS · Oct 3, 2017

Not aware of it in captivity. And if it is - it’s illegal. I worked for a program that studied it in the Virgin Islands and could never get approval to bring it back to their lab. They are also the organization that supplied the research and funding to get it on the endangered species list. So if they can’t get it, I’m skeptical of anyone that can.

nashorn · Oct 3, 2017

Not a very good looking arco.
Maybe illegal to own. But I doubt anyone can prove if it's a true Elkhorn.
I believe Eric Borneman had a colony years ago.

Picci · Oct 4, 2017

As I imagined.
Well, I'll keep trying (legally, of course).

Thanks

C Hawk · Oct 5, 2017

I actually find this coral esthetically pleasing. The growth tips are pure while the rest of the colony is a golden "yellow/brown". The growth form is very unique as well. I have dove/snorkeled the VIs many times and always spend some of it just experiencing the pure pleasure of being "face to face" with such a beautiful coral. Always wanted one for my reef. But I don't think that will happen. I could make the argument that if it was propagated in closed systems much could be learned and its survival assured.

Picci · Oct 6, 2017

Palmata is so special, unique and impressive.
It is a living monument.

I believe that affording controlled husbandry and propagation in closed systems among skilled aquarists would be a turning point for the specie.
The palmata problem, as per any endangered specie, is that its entire habitat has been corrupted.
Saving the palmata while we try to restore its habitat would give some hope for the future of the specie.

IMHO.

HOOPDEEZ · Oct 6, 2017

I absolutely agree, the best thing for the species would be to let people propagate it. As long as it wasn't harvested in any appreciable amount.

C Hawk · Oct 6, 2017

very well said.....could

Picci said:
Palmata is so special, unique and impressive.
It is a living monument.

I believe that affording controlled husbandry and propagation in closed systems among skilled aquarists would be a turning point for the specie.
The palmata problem, as per any endangered specie, is that its entire habitat has been corrupted.
Saving the palmata while we try to restore its habitat would give some hope for the future of the specie.

IMHO.

Very well stated. I could not agree more. The underwater landscape around the VI's has been ravaged by storms for many years now with devastating effects on this magnificent coral.

acro-ed · Oct 6, 2017

I've seen it in captivity, both legally and illegally. There have also been reports of FWC in Florida seizing captive Acropora that even "resembled" A. Palmata. (Yes, they will kill it before they let you grow it illegally).

I'm not sure how you would go about acquiring it in Italy. I can think of several illegal ways, but I digress.

It is unfortunate that we can't grow it, as it has definitely been in decline over the course of my lifetime (I've been diving/free diving Florida reefs since the early 1990's). I have seen a few patches that look healthy, but also lots of Acroporid serratiosis/white pox and white band.

IMO we are losing the battle and it's a shame we can't grow it in captivity to "save" the species.

I did see a rather impressive, totally healthy stand of it in Mexico last year. It is possible that some locales will keep their Palmata and Cervicornis, even if Florida's populations struggle.

I agree that despite the bland color it is a truly unique and impressive looking Acropora.

Best of luck in acquiring a piece someday. Unfortunately for me, despite being "physically" able to go get some, I am limited by my disposition to obey the laws of this State.

Thanks!
Ed

smokin'reefer · Oct 6, 2017

I had bought a coral and it was called an Appleberry Elkhorn from in California. Is this the same one that is endangered.? Or is this something else. IDK

jda · Oct 6, 2017

I remember some from years back. I don't know if it would do too well in today's tank. It already started to suffer when people went away from 5.5 and 6.5K halides to 10 and 14K. This is a very shallow water acro that always seemed to like that daylight spectrum. I have not seen any in 20 years, or so... there used to be some at the St. Louis Zoo that they would trade frags of.

rkpetersen · Oct 6, 2017

Can anyone here tell if this is an elkhorn? I was told that it is. (Sorry, not the best picture.) Would like to know for sure what a small one looks like.

jda · Oct 6, 2017

It can be an "Elkhorn" and not be Palmata. If you want to kill about an inch of it and take really good photos of the skeleton, I can pull out my Veron books and see - this is not all that great of an option, though.

rkpetersen · Oct 6, 2017

What other species can legitimately be called 'elkhorn'? I thought elkhorn = A. palmata.

And sure, I'll ask him if it's okay for me to snap a branch off his new coral.

jda · Oct 6, 2017

Exactly.

Elhorn gets thrown around like Tort, stag, etc. Most torts are austera, but some are actually torts.

People around here call Hydnophora by the name of Elkhorn.

jda · Oct 6, 2017

Also, the differences in Elk and Stag get lost over time and Stags start to get called Elkhorn through just mostly honest mistake.

smokin'reefer · Oct 6, 2017

I know the chances of me having an outlawed coral is pretty slim. I thought I would ask while y'all were having a discussion.

acro-ed · Oct 6, 2017

smokin'reefer said:
I had bought a coral and it was called an Appleberry Elkhorn from in California. Is this the same one that is endangered.? Or is this something else. IDK

No worries; this is definitely not A. palmata.

Lot's of "elkhorn" names get thrown around.

-Ed

acro-ed · Oct 6, 2017

rkpetersen said:
Can anyone here tell if this is an elkhorn? I was told that it is. (Sorry, not the best picture.) Would like to know for sure what a small one looks like.

This is an "Elkhorn Montipora" (Hirsuta?) which was popularized by ORA and others in the hobby.

-Ed

Steve H · Oct 6, 2017

It is illegal to possess in the US without federal permit. You can find it at a couple of public aquariums from populations collected as spawn through project SECORE. It needs very high PAR but it doesn't need low kelvin values (though iwasaki 6500k bulbs do make yellow and brown corals look a bit nicer with the strong yellow peak). Surprisingly it doesn't seem to require heavy flow, though pockets of detritus settling in one of its many crevices can lead to a ciliate infection. Here it is under 1000w Blueline 20K.