ID needed possibly asterospicularia

[JaimeAdams]

Back ground. I manage a saltwater aquarium specialty store. I have transhipped in a good amount of coral over the years. This is a piece of a softy that came as a hitch hiker on a rainbow micromussa that I brought in direct from Australia a few years back that I cut off and kept. I recently have a chunk of it to my friend Krista Pecchia and we were discussing what species it could possibly be. Ive not seen anything exactly like it. Selling and aquaculturing coral for a living I do have a decent knowledge base, but I'm stumped. Is this Asterospicularia in a red form?

 

[radreef02]

I have no clue but what’s the name of the torch in your pfp. I want

edit: you seem right or might be some kenya tree

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks lie Pink carnation coral and a gorgeous piece

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Great looking coral. The sclerites in the tissue seem to seem similar found in stereonepthea or dendronepthea.

 

[JaimeAdams]

It's not any type of Kenya tree. Stereonepthea is a good guess. It would have died a long time ago if it were Dendronepthea.

It grows much wider and stalkier than like Kenya tree or Stereonepthea. I used to bring in Stereonepthea ti the store fairly regularly 5 years ago or so actually. It does not drop branches or produce baby buds at all.

The pic is of the chunk that I have to Krista. I'll try to get some pics of my piece showing off the growth structure better.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Similar structure in my stereos

 

[JaimeAdams]

Similar structure in my stereos

Yes, similar. Stereos are tree like in structure this is much more shrubbery like. Much wider thick robust base.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Yes, similar. Stereos are tree like in structure this is much more shrubbery like. Much wider thick robust base.

Yes growth form is different but was a reference to internal structure of the sclerites. Great coral. I’d b into a frag. Lol

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

@JaimeAdams hit up new Dawn aquaculture. They seem to farm this species.