help me understand these softies ...

Devaji · Apr 6, 2017

OK so I am still a bit confused about these softies trying to wrap my head around it.
I know there all in the finger leather category but was hoping some of you experts could bring more light on them.
Litophyton sp.
Capnella sp.
Klyxum sp

things I want to know are:
are they the same coral just named differently depending on whee there collected?
do any of them drop babies like the Kenya tree? dont want that?
frag ability and grow rate. dont want them taking over the tank.
do they change color as the grow?

thanks!

Hyde2406 · Apr 6, 2017

My toadstool grows and splits and has dropped 1 pup in 1 year, the finger coral has tripled in size in a year, xenia are another story

ksanfranfan · Apr 6, 2017

I'm not expert but capnella and litophyton are in the family nephtheidae. Klyxum is in the family alcyoniidae.
All of them are in the same order alycyonacea. Each one also are of different genera and species.
In my experience I've found that while all of these corals look similar they end up with similar names ( colt coral, Kenya tree, etc.) They look similar but there structures are different.
When I first started in the hobby and kept many different soft corals, each would propagate on its own for different reasons. Too much flow, aggression or the need for more space, changes in water parameters, too strong light or not enough light. Some would spread by their roots and take over a structure while others would frag themselves and grow in a different part of the tank.