?Stawberry blue soft Coral?

[kdwal]

Can anyone help to identify this coral by another name? LFS had it labeled
as Strawberry Blue Soft Coral, but I can't seem to find any info on it. Texture almost looks like a leather, but someone in the store said he thought it might be a hard coral? Any ideas? It is very pretty and unique. Just want to find out more about it so I can take care of it properly.

 

[Jeff]

I believe that's a Trunicate, nonphotosynthetic. Check out Trunicate
HTH
Jeff

 

[kdwal]

I do believe you are right Jeff. I do have a challenge ahead..... I paid a lot less than the price they are asking on their site. Still, Is it really a soft? I will do some more research now that I have a good name to go by. Thanks for the help, but isn't it pretty? It sustained no damage in the transport, acclimation and placing in the tank as they warned. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I love this site, there are always answers!

 

[Jeff]

Good luck with it. I would try to make sure that it gets lots of flow.

 

[jesshimom]

That is really cool looking! Good luck with it.

 

[kdwal]

Good news is, It actually looks better in my tank then it did in the LFS. The heads were not open at LFS and when I got it home, they opened up right away. re: flow, I have the rio 600 to the wet/dry with a rio 800 for the output. I have another on the opposite side of the tank, can't remember the brand but says it moves 55-160gph. My tank is 30 gallon, should I get another PH or a larger one to replace the 55-160? Had that problem with cyano before, maybe an additional PH or bigger would help all, but when I got the 55-160 for my 30 I was told I probably would not need it because the tank is small. I did it anyway. I will run to store and pick-up what ever is advisable by you all. Again, not to nag, is this guy considered soft?
thanks
BTW Jesshimom, what is an "African tank"????

 

[jesshimom]

It's a tank of various breeds of cichlids all from different African Lakes. They are very colorful and very entertaining. I counted them the best I could yesterday and have 48 fish in the tank. It's always on the move and colors flashing everywhere. They are freshwater and do best (at least for me) when they are somewhat overstocked then they do not get so territorial. I have one mean one right now terrorizing some of the fish. So either he comes out or I will add a few more fish. That usually takes care of the problem.

Thanks, Colleen

 

[Beckmola24]

Kathy, this should answer some of your questions. http://depts.washington.edu/fhlk12/StudentProjects/Tun.biology.html

 

[Jeff]

I not sure what your gph turnover rate for you tank is, but I would go for 300+ gph turnover rate. This may or may not work well with other inhabitants. If you have the room on the back of the tank you could add a power filter with no media. I have some of these on my smaller tanks, you get like 400 gph of very quiet dispersed flow while using only like 5 watts. I generally stay away from Rio pumps, I have Maxi jets and aquaclear powerheads that have lasted 6+ years.

 

[jesshimom]

Great link Becky!!

 

[MzWeazelle]

Nice coral! I see lots of great things in my window shopping, but not often something that hits me with the "I just gotta have one of those!" feeling. Yours got me right away. Will be checking back often to hear how well it goes for you.

Good luck.

 

[BlennyBabe]

Actually its not a coral at all , but a sort of colonial sea squirt, or tunicate. its a filterfeeder so give it lots of flow and feed the tank as many types of particulate (phyto, microvert, cyclopeeze goldenpearls ect.) as your system can handle. Good luck. I have always thought they were cool inverts (though technically they are in the phylum chordata and arent true invertebrates.)

 

[kdwal]

BlennyBabe; I have done a little studying today and you are correct. There are many names for this guy, sea squirt, lollypop, etc.
I spoke with my "expert" LFS guy, (not the one that I bought it from) and he always tells it like it is.......which is, probably won't live long. when the heads get to a certain size, they fall off and grow new ones, and although the phyto and such are suggested because they are filter feeders, no one is really sure what to feed them to keep them alive for any length of time; he says a few months is usually as long as they are kept in captivity. There are different types, some have a thin looking membrane appearance and then there are those, like mine that have a more leather look. I bought some of his "home grown "green water" (live phyto) to feed him and the others. Interesting little sidebar; each one of those white "pod" looking things on the head, actually have two openings, one for intake and the other for output. Don't know if you can magnify the picture enough to actually see it. He said you don't usually see them in LFS because of their short life span and they sell them rather cheaply because of that.
That is the lesson for today folks. Now lets see how long he will survive, I hope it is longer rather than shorter.

 

[skylsdale]

That guy pretty much started dying the minute it was removed from the reef. Dismal success rates in captivity. Good luck...

 

[kdwal]

Pretty sad to think of it that way. Thanks for the positive words, still looks good.

 

[skylsdale]

I guess you can think of it as sad...I see it as realistic and knowledgeable.

 

[Angelscrx]

Unfortunately you get many places that sell corals like this. I got a beautiful flower pot coral. Life expentantcy is 6 months and I didn't know that.