First SPS - with ID please

[Streetlamp]

I picked up this guy today could you ID please. It has small red polyps you can’t really see.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

Looks like montipora digitate, forest fire variant

 

[Streetlamp]

Thanks I’ll give that a search and see how we look.

 

[Streetlamp]

I’m going to say it’s not Forest Fire Digitata as the body colour isn’t green. The structure looks like Digi. I’ll let it settle in more and see how we look.

Just a note the body structure has riffles rather then a smooth finish.

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

I’m going to say it’s not Forest Fire Digitata as the body colour isn’t green. The structure looks like Digi. I’ll let it settle in more and see how we look.

Just a note the body structure has riffles rather then a smooth finish.

Some digis can take on that riffled look, flow etc can impact that

 

[Angel_Anthias lover]

What is the body colour? Looks sort of green to me, might just be the lights

 

[CCauthers]

It appears to me to be a montipora digitada, which is a type of montipora that encrusts similar to some non tabling acros. If the skeleton is white, then it just a red montipora. If the skeleton has green on it in some spots it may be a forest fire/bubblegum/hellfire digi, but they usually have very dense polyps covering them, while regular red digis have less dense polyp cover (I have both of them)

 

[Streetlamp]

I’d say it’s a light orange/tan

 

[CCauthers]

I’d say it’s a light orange/tan

If so, I'd say with confidence that it's a red digitada

 

[Streetlamp]

I think so too especially based on your comment re polyp density

 

[Streetlamp]

Any hints or tips for care?

 

[C. Eymann]

I actually believe this is montipora samarensis, or montipora altasepta both are very similar to M. digitata, however both M. samarensis and altasepta's coenstrum is very ridged and coralites are more immersed, M. digitata has a smooth coenstrum.

All three species have nearly identical care / husbandry requirements.

 

[Streetlamp]

Thanks @C. Eymann after some further googling montipora altasepta looks like a better match.

 

[Streetlamp]

Quick question what sort of polyp extension should I expect on this? I can see the polyps out a small bit but being my first SPS I’m not sure.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Agree on digita which also comes in blue and green and what is called bubblegum version.
In the future , research and investigate (especially SPS/acro) BEFORE you buy as you may end up with a specimen intended for the most experienced hobbyist.

 

[Streetlamp]

Agree on digita which also comes in blue and green and what is called bubblegum version.
In the future , research and investigate (especially SPS/acro) BEFORE you buy as you may end up with a specimen intended for the most experienced hobbyist.

The lfs did say it was a straight forward sps and it was relatively cheap. So wasn’t a completely blind purchase and was bought as a step into sps.

 

[Streetlamp]

Took some close ups. Not the greatest pics.

 

[kevin_e]

I’m going to say it’s not Forest Fire Digitata as the body colour isn’t green. The structure looks like Digi. I’ll let it settle in more and see how we look.

Just a note the body structure has riffles rather then a smooth finish.

How can you tell the color?

 

[Streetlamp]

How can you tell the color?

I’ve got two mk 1 eyeballs that are in pretty good condition.

 

[C. Eymann]

Took some close ups. Not the greatest pics.

montipora altasepta looks like a pretty good match
http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_images/montipora-altasepta/