Coral ID, please?

JasonVH · Feb 5, 2023

At LFS. Encrusts at the base for a fair bit. Very thick flattish branches. Dark color, looks almost black in person under their lighting(couldn't get pictures under white light). Pictures are of the same coral from the front and rear. Nobody at shop knew what it was other than 'stony coral' and is extremely hardy.

Shibaken3 · Feb 5, 2023

cabbage coral?

dwest · Feb 5, 2023

Blue ridge coral, heliopora

JasonVH · Feb 5, 2023

Shibaken3 said:
cabbage coral?

Want to say no.. it's definitely a stony coral. The stony cabbage corals seem too thin.. this coral's branches are Very thick. EDIT: Turns out this is a heliopora softie with the rare exception of forming a stony skeleton. Utterly surprised here.

However I want to thank you for ID on another coral in the shop! They also had leather cabbage corals.

JasonVH · Feb 5, 2023

dwest said:
Blue ridge coral, heliopora

Yeah looks like it! And they're actually soft corals? The rare exception to forming a stony skeleton.. It looks so very much like a SPS of some kind! Much appreciated for the ID.

dwest · Feb 5, 2023

Agree about the hardiness. Mine is just above the green leather and at least 25 years old. It’s been through hell and back

dwest · Feb 5, 2023

JasonVH said:
Yeah looks like it! And they're actually soft corals? The rare exception to forming a stony skeleton.. It looks so very much like a SPS of some kind! Much appreciated for the ID.

Yes, I believe they are more related to soft corals, but it is hard for sure.

JasonVH · Feb 5, 2023

dwest said:
Agree about the hardiness. Mine is just above the green leather and at least 25 years old. It’s been through hell and back

Very nice! I thought it was quite the attention grabber at the LFS. Seemed to stand out nicely among the SPS and some LPS in their display tank.

The owner repeatedly mentioned it's very strong, very hardy- good to get confirmation on that. I was surprised by a "SPS" described as that. So I got intrigued but now it makes sense as they fall under softies. Do they have the same potential issue of releasing toxins as some other leathers?

JasonVH · Feb 5, 2023

dwest said:
Yes, I believe they are more related to soft corals, but it is hard for sure.

Thanks for this- quick google to compare had me confused. They really do "look SPS". That's why I posted pictures for ID under this sub forum, ha!

Dburr1014 · Feb 5, 2023

They are actually a leather coral with a stony center.

dwest · Feb 5, 2023

JasonVH said:
Very nice! I thought it was quite the attention grabber at the LFS. Seemed to stand out nicely among the SPS and some LPS in their display tank.

The owner repeatedly mentioned it's very strong, very hardy- good to get confirmation on that. I was surprised by a "SPS" described as that. So I got intrigued but now it makes sense as they fall under softies. Do they have the same potential issue of releasing toxins as some other leathers?

That’s a great question. I don’t know. Mine easily covers other corals with new growth. That’s about the only “bad” thing I know of.

sfin52 · Feb 5, 2023

They get very large and. Will smother other corals. @fishguy242 can you lend your expertise on the blue ridge leather coral

fishguy242 · Feb 5, 2023

Can't kill it, grows like crazy,OG colony started at about 6"x 4" in 1993 ??, i have given enough away to fill a mini van...

I'll come back w some pics in a bit...

JasonVH · Feb 6, 2023

fishguy242 said:
Can't kill it, grows like crazy,OG colony started at about 6"x 4" in 1993 ??, i have given enough away to fill a mini van...
I'll come back w some pics in a bit...

Would be great to see pics!

So I went back and picked up a frag. Don't have a QT and very nervous about putting the frag plug in even with judicious dipping. Perhaps not the best thing to do- cut it off so I could toss the frag plug. ID proven without a doubt- the skeleton is very blue/purplish!

fishguy242 · Feb 6, 2023

Just a frag,circa 2005 ,in 75g tank

they make a good frag rack too...

Dburr1014 · Feb 6, 2023

Here's is mine. It was bigger but I accidently broke it.

JasonVH · Feb 6, 2023

fishguy242 said:
Just a frag,circa 2005 ,in 75g tank

they make a good frag rack too...

Wow! Not kidding about "encrusting"! Interesting how it seems to do everything- columns, branches, encrusts and plates. Good to know some corals are able to touch it aside the potential of it taking over the "frag plug rack".

Does the skeleton keep the blue color after drying out? Kept a piece to find out about that. Much appreciated for the amazing pictures!

JasonVH · Feb 6, 2023

Dburr1014 said:
Here's is mine. It was bigger but I accidently broke it.

Thanks for adding pictures on this species! Very cool otherworldy growths.

fishguy242 · Feb 6, 2023

JasonVH said:
Wow! Not kidding about "encrusting"! Interesting how it seems to do everything- columns, branches, encrusts and plates. Good to know some corals are able to touch it aside the potential of it taking over the "frag plug rack".

Does the skeleton keep the blue color after drying out? Kept a piece to find out about that. Much appreciated for the amazing pictures!

ya' know 30 yrs, never dried any out, pretty sure needs to be sun bleached to turn the powder blue...

but when fragged inside is blue.

JasonVH · Feb 6, 2023

fishguy242 said:
ya' know 30 yrs, never dried any out, pretty sure needs to be sun bleached to turn the powder blue...
but when fragged inside is blue.

I'll let you know! That piece is sitting OUTSIDE... don't want to deal with the stink lol