SPS ID

[Brit’s Fish]

Not a Leptastrea?

I don’t think so but anything is possible at this point! I did look through photos of green leptastrea just now and it doesn’t quite look like this. I’m pretty sure it has a fairly smooth skeleton and unfortunately, I’ve killed a leptastrea before and their skeletons seemed a lot more sharp and pointy. I have not managed to kill one of these yet to really inspect the skeleton but I have cut it with bone cutters.

 

[djf91]

Looks like a Montipora or small clump of encrusted acropora. Strangely over extended, over inflated polyps.

 

[crazyfishmom]

The first two photos are from when I very first got this coral about 1 year ago exactly. The next pic is from last August after it colored up more.

that’s a great Cyphastrea you have there. Beautiful!

 

[Troylee]

I believe it’s a hyrdrnopohra or how ever you spell it lol… haven’t seen one in ages.

 

[Troylee]

These things are killers be careful what you put around it lol..

 

[MrBrbsmoke]

Looks very similar to a Montipora Stellata I was looking at recently, but I'm also not that good with anything outside of softies lol. If you could get a close up on the polyps or lights on it it might be easier to discard what it Isn't!

 

[MoshJosh]

Leptastria, and retracted Alveopora are my first guesses. . . I’ll keep looking though

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Hi all, sorry, I had not seen these more recent replies. I ended up going back to the LFS where I bought these and he confirmed that these are Montipora Spongodes, at least when he sold them to me. I know the polyps are super weirdly overinflated. I’m certainly not complaining about that but it is part of what made me wonder if it was Spongodes. I did not expect it to be so hard to identify though! My phone really doesn’t seem to want to focus on it either. I think these pics are the best I’m gonna get.
I don’t know if lower light would maybe make the polyps inflate to try to maximize their surface area? I have torches up at the same level but I’m sure that the light is probably not above 180, maybe 200?
I suppose I really wanted the ID because if I can grow this, what else can I maybe add that I didn’t think I could before?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

These things are killers be careful what you put around it lol..

For sure not Hydnophora, I do have a few kinds in another tank and they’re a lot fluffier than these. I’ll agree with you on the part that they’re killers!

 

[Brit’s Fish]

that’s a great Cyphastrea you have there. Beautiful!

I wish it was Cyphastrea… I have never had luck with Cyphastrea or Astreopora in this tank. They’re one of my “white whales” that I just can’t grow long term in this tank.

 

[MoshJosh]

Alveopora minuta?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Alveopora minuta?

Wow, this does look pretty similar!

 

[MoshJosh]

Can you get the polyps to retract and get a picture of the skeleton? Better yet, if you have any dead pieces can we see the skeleton hahaha

 

[encrustingacro]

It looks like some sort of Acroporid, maybe an aberrant Montipora?

 

[encrustingacro]

Alveopora minuta?

Although this coral does look similar to some small-polyped Alveopora, this coral looks to have a coenosteum, which Alveopora does not.

 

[MoshJosh]

Although this coral does look similar to some small-polyped Alveopora, this coral looks to have a coenosteum, which Alveopora does not.

What is a coenosteum? I am always interested in learning more about coral ID!

 

[MoshJosh]

It looks like some sort of Acroporid, maybe an aberrant Montipora?

This also sounds legit to me! In my search I found a number of acros with similar (but not the same polyps)

Are their names or ways of describing this corals more lobular/rounded tentacles as compared to the more pointed tentacles of say a "typical" acropora?

 

[encrustingacro]

What is a coenosteum? I am always interested in learning more about coral ID!

 

[encrustingacro]

This also sounds legit to me! In my search I found a number of acros with similar (but not the same polyps)

Are their names or ways of describing this corals more lobular/rounded tentacles as compared to the more pointed tentacles of say a "typical" acropora?

Acroporid means of the family Acroporidae, not just Acropora, which is why I mentioned Montipora. I don't think it is an Acropora.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Can you get the polyps to retract and get a picture of the skeleton? Better yet, if you have any dead pieces can we see the skeleton hahaha

Although this coral does look similar to some small-polyped Alveopora, this coral looks to have a coenosteum, which Alveopora does not.

Maybe these will help? I fortunately/unfortunately do not have any skeletons but I do see some old recession that is being covered again.
Enjoy the cameo from my Leopard Wrasse. She always thinks she needs to help me with anything I’m holding. I had to take a lot of blurry pictures to get these because of her. Lol