Need an ID on this stunning LPS...

[Oceansize]

I snatched this up from my LFS right away when I saw it. Alas, my LFS owner speaks very broken English and so I couldn't really catch what he said when I asked him exactly what it was. Ras-something?

It's quickly become my favorite piece; I should know what it is!

I also notice it looks like it will split soon, as it now has two distinct 'mouths'. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Does it mean it's happy or sad?

 

[mrcoffee2]

trachyphyllia / brain possibly?

 

[sil40sx]

Yeah, looks like open brain.

 

[Oceansize]

Huh, I never would have guessed brain coral because when I think of brain coral, I think of this:



But then I went hunting online and found this nearly identical trachy:




The difference is, all these pics of trachys I'm seeing have very undulating perimeters. The perimeter of mine doesn't really undulate at all except now at the area where it's splitting.

Hmmm.

Nevertheless, I think you guys are right.

Thanks!

P.S. As long as I've got your attention, can you answer my question about the splitting? Does it have good or bad implications?

 

[sil40sx]

Mine have 3 visible mouth. I dont think it will split soon, ive only had it a little over 3 months.

Its not remotely as pretty as yours though. Hahaha

 

[Oceansize]

Mine have 3 visible mouth. I dont think it will split soon, ive only had it a little over 3 months.

Its not remotely as pretty as yours though. Hahaha

I did spoil myself, lol. I finally got my tank to a point where I'm no longer killing frags, and as a reward this is the first piece I've spent three figures on. So now I'm highly motivated to keep it happy. ;)

 

[sil40sx]

Nice, congrats!

 

[mrcoffee2]

I had one similar a peppermint shrimp ate. If you have any opportunistic feeders make sure you watch them.

 

[Oceansize]

Thanks for the tip. I do have two skunk cleaner shrimp, but I have not noticed them being aggressive toward this guy.

I had one similar a peppermint shrimp ate. If you have any opportunistic feeders make sure you watch them.

 

[A.J.]

Stunning piece, where did you get it?

 

[Oceansize]

Stunning piece, where did you get it?

Seaside Tropical Fish in Huntington Beach, CA.

 

[Salty1962]

Very nice colors! Feed it 1-2x week and it will keep up the show.

 

[Tab28]

First picture is a trachyphyllia geoffroyi. Trachyphyllia radiata has more of a undulating outer ring. Some geoffroyi have some or less undulating, depends on where it came from.

Brain coral is a generic catch all adjective for at least a dozen corals of different families. To say brain coral is as equal as saying big fluffy coral. The second picture is something from the platygyra family, often called maze coral.