Coral ID if you would

[TokenReefer]

I've had this coral for a while now. Thought it was a trumpet all along and starting to split a few weeks back. Just mounted it in new tank and I'm not thinking so any more. Lobophyllia perhaps?

 

[Matt Bravo]

I think this is one of the first times I’ve been stumped, It has to be an lps, and has similar colors to some candy canes. Not really sure though

 

[Matt Bravo]

Maybe a lobo?

 

[Sticker shock]

Platygyra?

 

[kevgib67]

Looks like a small trachy. Could you get a picture under white lights or shine a flashlight on it?

 

[TokenReefer]

I think this is one of the first times I’ve been stumped, It has to be an lps, and has similar colors to some candy canes. Not really sure though

Exactly! When it was one 'node' it looked like a candy cane. Then it started to pinch and grew a new mouth and I thought ok this is how they split... A few weeks later after a tank move I pick it up off the sand and it has ~5 mouths now :thinking-face:

 

[vetteguy53081]

I've had this coral for a while now. Thought it was a trumpet all along and starting to split a few weeks back. Just mounted it in new tank and I'm not thinking so any more. Lobophyllia perhaps?

Can you post under white lighting? First glance said lobo but then can be bowerbanki or blasto as examples

 

[TokenReefer]

Here's full white and a flashlight. Idk that it's any clearer though. Lol

 

[thamnasteroid]

Maybe a lobo?

too small and flesh texture is not right to be Lobophyllia

Platygyra?

Platygyra is meandroid to subcerioid, while this coral is flabello-meandroid

Looks like a small trachy. Could you get a picture under white lights or shine a flashlight on it?

too small to be Trachyphyllia, and the flesh texture is not right

Can you post under white lighting? First glance said lobo but then can be bowerbanki or blasto as examples

Homophyllia bowerbanki has larger, cerioid (not flabello-meandroid) corallites, and has a more "velvety" flesh texture. It's not a Blastomussa either, as Blastomussa does not become flabello-meandroid.

Where did you get your coral? If it was from a piece of maricultured live rock, my best guess would be Manicina areolata, although I doubt it, as your coral seems to be attatched to the rock.. Otherwise, my best guess would be Caulastraea or Astraeosmilia that is splitting. I've seen a few trumpets/candy cane colonies with a flabello-meandroid head or two; it seems to be more common in Astraeosmilia:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134932133https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181193841https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/137766654

 

[Matt Bravo]

too small and flesh texture is not right to be Lobophyllia


Platygyra is meandroid to subcerioid, while this coral is flabello-meandroid


too small to be Trachyphyllia, and the flesh texture is not right


Homophyllia bowerbanki has larger, cerioid (not flabello-meandroid) corallites, and has a more "velvety" flesh texture. It's not a Blastomussa either, as Blastomussa does not become flabello-meandroid.

Where did you get your coral? If it was from a piece of maricultured live rock, my best guess would be Manicina areolata, although I doubt it, as your coral seems to be attatched to the rock.. Otherwise, my best guess would be Caulastraea or Astraeosmilia that is splitting. I've seen a few trumpets/candy cane colonies with a flabello-meandroid head or two; it seems to be more common in Astraeosmilia:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134932133https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181193841https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/137766654

Looks like your ID is here haha

 

[TokenReefer]

too small and flesh texture is not right to be Lobophyllia


Platygyra is meandroid to subcerioid, while this coral is flabello-meandroid


too small to be Trachyphyllia, and the flesh texture is not right


Homophyllia bowerbanki has larger, cerioid (not flabello-meandroid) corallites, and has a more "velvety" flesh texture. It's not a Blastomussa either, as Blastomussa does not become flabello-meandroid.

Where did you get your coral? If it was from a piece of maricultured live rock, my best guess would be Manicina areolata, although I doubt it, as your coral seems to be attatched to the rock.. Otherwise, my best guess would be Caulastraea or Astraeosmilia that is splitting. I've seen a few trumpets/candy cane colonies with a flabello-meandroid head or two; it seems to be more common in Astraeosmilia:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/134932133https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/181193841https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/137766654

Very detailed reply. Much appreciated. Everyone else as well. I think you're right and it is a caulastrea after all. At least it looks the most like the ones I've seen online with an abnormal (flabello-meandroid?) head maybe still splitting. Very informative. Thank you

 

[TokenReefer]

Still not exactly sure what this is. But it's growing!

 

[Matt Bravo]

Looking good man

 

[TokenReefer]

Looking good man

Thanks! I hate to do it because it likes this spot but I gotta move it to get the magnet cleaner by that area. Not sure where yet. Tbh Im no good at that part of the hobby lol

 

[Matt Bravo]

Why not just scoot to the side for a little bit then return to it’s original spot?

 

[TokenReefer]

Yeah I might just do that. Turn it inward a little. Doesn't need much room

 

[TokenReefer]

Made a lot of faces but def a caulastrea (I think :))

 

[19Mateo83]

It looks a lot like Astraeosmilia, I’m pretty sure mine is one too.
https://reefbuilders.com/2021/03/04/astraeosmilia-is-a-new-genus-that-splits-up-the-candy-corals/

 

[TokenReefer]

Astraeosmilia, the new candy cane species.
https://reefbuilders.com/2021/03/04/astraeosmilia-is-a-new-genus-that-splits-up-the-candy-corals/R

Really interesting. Thanks for the read!