ID

btldreef

Moderator
I know I'm going to feel like an idiot once this is correctly identified, but I can't figure out what it is. It is not a favia, as it is soft, almost sponge-like to the touch. I was told it was a "Mayor's Coral", but I can not find any info on it. I honsetly bought this piece because it's got beautiful coloring and is a combo rock with a huge piece of montipora on the other side of it, this piece just kind of came along for the ride.
Any ideas?
 

meowzer

Moderator
WOW...it sure is different.....I have no clue though....LOL
can you get a pic of it's colors?
 

meowzer

Moderator
There are 5 common species of Platygyra
platygyra daedalea, P. lamellina, P. pini, P. sinensis, P. verweyi
also known as maze corals.....
I think that is what you have :)
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326463
WOW...it sure is different.....I have no clue though....LOL
can you get a pic of it's colors?
Honestly, those are the colors, under actinics or white light, it's blue and a burnt orange/brown color. In the orange section, there are tiny fine white dots, not tentacles, just white dots.
It's really odd.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326469
There are 5 common species of Platygyra
platygyra daedalea, P. lamellina, P. pini, P. sinensis, P. verweyi
also known as maze corals.....
I think that is what you have :)
It's not maze (platygyra). I have that, this is weird. With many maze corals, there is a raised section and a sunken in section, like craters on the moon, if that makes sense. This, whether it is puffed up, or sunken in, is all the same level. It's puffy like a sponge or acan, even when sunken in, but has the feel of a leather coral or sponge when you touch it. Whatever it is, I love it, it's just odd.
 

nikesb

Active Member
i've only seen them about 3 times at the lfs and completely forgot the name each time. you might want to send live aquaria a picture for an id. i know they had one up before
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bang Guy http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326495
It's a Colonial Tunicate, not a coral.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326497
A real beauty too!
I was originally thinking that it was a sponge or a tunicate, but I honestly don't know that much about tunicates so I wasn't really sure. I was told it was a Mayor's Coral, which was a rare type of Favia, and I just knew that was wrong, but it was so pretty that I couldn't turn it down, I only paid $40 for it and it is attached to a rock with a huge montipora on it, so I figured that was a good price.
I guess I'll have to learn some more about tunicates now.
The LFS has another one that is a little smaller than this one and it's pink and red in coloring, really pretty. Do you guys think I should pick that one up as well?
 

nikesb

Active Member
if you feel that you can keep up with the needs of it, go for it. i keep my water as clean as possible so i wouldnt do it in my case. if you've tried keeping a spider sponge and you were successful, you should be fine
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by nikeSB http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326536
if you feel that you can keep up with the needs of it, go for it. i keep my water as clean as possible so i wouldnt do it in my case. if you've tried keeping a spider sponge and you were successful, you should be fine
I think I can do it, although I might want to rethink it being in it's current tank. I have phytoplankton and all that jazz and figure if I can breed clams and keep an orange spotted filefish alive, I "should" be able to do this. We'll see how this goes.
Anyone have any suggestions of how to detach this colony from the rock so that it's no longer near the montipora, I would like the two pieces to be in two separate tanks if possible.
 

nikesb

Active Member
aside from phytoplankton think about filter feeder formulas. i know reefcleaners has one thats been getting good reviews from non-photosynthetic hobbyists. you should be good to go!
 

spanko

Active Member
IMO if this critter was collected by being attached to the rock with the monti cap on it, I would suggest that it was on the bottom of the rock in the shade or the cryptic zone of the area. This would mean to me that it need good flow around it too as the monti also requires this. Also gonna need to keep some food flying by it that is small enough for it to grab onto an eat.
Also found this on feeding
"'Foods/Feeding/Nutrition:

All ascidians are plankton feeders. Well-seasoned systems with refugiums, not-over-vigorous skimming, and daily addition of phytoplankton preparations, blended (as in a blender) foods (either solids and/or liquids, and/or fresh/frozen material... plankton infusoria, newly hatched brineshrimp, minced worms, flakes, bivalve juice...), with the filter pumps cycled off (for fifteen minutes via timers is best...) are good ways of assuring nutrifying these animals. "
Just my guesses on this.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/381711/id#post_3326547
IMO if this critter was collected by being attached to the rock with the monti cap on it, I would suggest that it was on the bottom of the rock in the shade or the cryptic zone of the area. This would mean to me that it need good flow around it too as the monti also requires this. Also gonna need to keep some food flying by it that is small enough for it to grab onto an eat.
Just my guesses on this.
this definitely was on the underside of the rock.
It seemed to like the rotifiers that were added to the tank last night for other non-photosynthetics I have.
I guess I've got some research to do after dinner. It's unlike me to purchase something without knowing anything about it (except SPS, when I just don't know the exact type it is), but the coloration of this piece just sucked me in.
 
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