Coral Question

[brewercm]

I got this guy as a hitchhiker on this rock of polyps. I'm wondering if I need to somehow get it off and seperate it from the polyps and how to do that if so?

Thanks

http://users.aol.com/brewerch66/private/2337.jpg

[RedDragon]

I don't know but, I think it looks cool, where did you get it, and what do you plan to do with it :-D

[brewercm]

I picked that piece up at Forever Pets when I was in there looking around. I'm hoping he continues to grow out and possibly move it to another rock if it's possible. It looks like a small Colt from what I've seen picture wise.

It would make a great addition to the tank if it grows out nice. Right now I only have that and a zoo colony and a brain. So anything at this point is good. Hoping to pick up some frags here and there or trade for some if I can get the zoos to move onto an adjacent rock. Actually the polyps on that rock have really started to fill in a lot since I got it about a month ago.

[phage]

Pretty sure that's not a colt... though i could be wrong. I'd guess something like a carnation or other related species.

[brewercm]

I've never seen a picture of a carnation. Very hard to find sites that offer up pictures of different species. Right now fully extended it is about 2 inches long, probably grown half to three quarters of an inch since I bought it.

By the way, anyone have an answer to the first question about moving it.? :?

Thanks

[Tim Marvin]

Looks like a Kenya tree. I could be wrong though.

[matt]

I agree with Tim; capnella sp. aka kenya tree. If that's what it is, it's harmless, actually, your yellow polyps will probably harass it. I'd suggest let it grow for a while to see what happens, but it should transplant very easily if it's what I think it is.

Matt

[brewercm]

I have noticed that it is only fully extended at night when the polyps are not extended. Once the lights come on it stumps down to set below the polyps. The picture I got was just after the lights came on, about an hour later it was down to about one third it's size again until the lights were off again.
How should I attempt to move it? Should I cut it off at the base with a razor then re-attach using glue to another rock? Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but new to keeping corals and would probably get better answer here than from an LFS.

[MikeP]

brewer - I concur with Tim it's probably a capnella - possibly also could be a lemnallia sp? which look very similar. Worst case it might be a dendronophyta which are non photosynthetic , I only say this ecause of the interesting striations I see on the stalk and that it doesn't seem to like the light much - they are hard to keep but look much like kenya tree just in a wide array of colors.

Regardless most soft corals like this you can just snip and move - usually when they get large enough they will drop branches but cutting it probably won't be a big issue. It may release some toxins when cut so just throw some carbon in the filter for a few days to clean it up. If you can take a few more close ups of the polyps and stalk we might be able to make a more precise ID!

[brewercm]

I will try to get a little more of a close up tonight once it decides to extend again. I'm thinking I had the camera zoomed all the way with that pic but can't remember. Using an old digital so tough to get a good one.

Thanks All

[Jimnorris]

IMO this coral is a dendronephthya---non photosynthetic predatory coral. Looks beautiful! This coral likes shade! And must be fed.
Jim

[brewercm]

After reading some replies I did a search and it appears to be dendronephthya species. Mainly from looking at the stalks of these that I found. I've been target feeding with phytoplankton about every three days since that looks like it's best bet for getting anything.
From the info I've read I'm guessing that I should attempt to relocate it to another rock and place it in a shaded area and see how it goes.

I suppose the best choice would be to cut it at base and glue (superglue gel) it to a small rock of it's own and see how it does. Does this sound correct to you? Plus from previous post run fresh charcoal to make sure any toxins released are taken care of. If wrong on any of these points please advise and wish a newbee luck.

[Tim Marvin]

You know I was thinking it was a dendronephthya also, but since it is in the polyps I thought it may have been getting too much light and current. That is why I was thinking a tree. Although I used to have a huge lemnalia that did very well in halides and heavy current.