What's the difference?!?!

[fagundespavinp3]

Ok so I have been doin the reef thing for a little over a year now and loving it... But I'm still very new in the grand scheme of things. I have been expanding my coral collection as of recently and picked up a lobophyllia but I'm a little confused as to what's the difference between an Acanthastrea and how to tell the difference between the two for purchasing and identifying them?

 

[Oscaror]

This kind of a tricky one to describe. Acans kinda look like mushroom, whereas lobos when they grow and start splitting will look like symphyllias or trachys

 

[fagundespavinp3]

yeah just did a search and Symphyllias look Similar as well. im just a big proponent to know what you are buying and how to care for it before purchase... here is a shot of the one I picked up.

 

[Tab28]

It is a branching or lobed lobo. Symphillia looks alot like lobo, same family. On lobo the outer puffy ring, coralite ridge, is continuous. It may undulate but it is like an unbroken rubber band. Each head has its own unbroken ring. Symphillia the puffy ring can just stop and start, like a maze. You will see it look like a lobo but suddenly a piece will stop and not reconnect to the other part of coralite ridge. Also head head of your lobo has a different separation. Symphillia it is all one piece.

 

[fagundespavinp3]

honestly I don't know It was thrown In on a deal I had... so IDK If Its branching judging by the old skeletal structure I would say Lobed.

 

[Tab28]

Lobed and branching are used in often for same type of lobo. There may be some skeleton differences if they are not different adjectives for the same coral. but most would not notice especially on a small coral. Care would be the same.