Help ID this SPS please...

[mr_alberta]

Hi everyone,

I was given this coral frag from a friend of mine a while back, but I'm not sure exactly what it is! :redface:

I think it might be a Pavona, but I'm not sure. Can anyone else help with a guess? Its fuzzy and doesn't really have very large polyps. Pretty much what you see in the photo is what you get.

http://members.shaw.ca/harvwong/Feb.14.06/DSCF0054_1.jpg

[Ruth]

I've got one of those too except it is more of a teal/blue color. I was told that it was a cats paw but it doesn't really look like one to me. Following along.

[Delphinus]

I would guess Pavona of some kind (there are of course several species). Seen this kind a few times, usually just id'd as Pavona or cactus.

My WAG on this is P. cactus since it is the closest that resembles this one (I just did a search on P. cactus, P. clavus, P.decussata, P. explanulata, P. frondifera, P. praetorta, and P. varians).

To me, a "cats paw" is a Stylopora (usually S. pistillata although also seems to be others in the species, but I can't remember the names at the moment) and sometimes I've seen Pocillopora called cats paw. When I was looking at pics of Pavona's I thought P. clavus sort of resembled Stylopora but without the hot pink colour. Of course common names seem to be a open game so who knows.

Anyhow my guess is Pavona as well.

[Murminator]

I'll agree on the pavona too I have a brown one that started out looking like that before it branched out.

[Ruth]

This is what I have.
https://www.oceanaquatics.com/view_product.php?product=CATJN9TZ190

[Delphinus]

Psammacora sp. eh? Well, looks pretty convincing.

Check these out:
http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/0903/0923_pics.html
(That probably solidifies the ID as Psammacora...)

http://www.reeffarmers.com/limitedpsammocorablue.htm
Not quite the same, but hey, it's waitlisted until September 2007! :eek: (That reeffarmers.com site is always good for a chuckle. Sure, put my name down for November 2011 please...)

[christyf5]

Yeah I was thinking Psammocora as well. Pavona has sort of elongated teardrop shaped polyps.

[Murminator]

Mine gets really fuzzy and has long sweepers:confused:

[Reefhawk1]

Hey Harvey, I don't want to Hi jack your thread but could you tell me the name of this sps. I was told it was a pavona as well but haven't seen it in any dealers tanks to confirm it.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Jan_2006_051.jpg

[rickjames]

To me that one looks like a hynophora of some sort. The first one in this thread definitely looks like pavona.

[mr_alberta]

I agree with Rick James, it does look like a Hydnophora to me as well.

[Joe Reefer]

Hey Harvey, I don't want to Hi jack your thread but could you tell me the name of this sps. I was told it was a pavona as well but haven't seen it in any dealers tanks to confirm it.

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Jan_2006_051.jpg

I have some of this stuff and I am pretty sure its hydnophora.

[Reefhawk1]

I got this piece from The Coral Hunter. He Had a specific name for it that I had never heard of before. It wasn't Hydnophora though. He said it was a rare coral that came on one of his shipments. Guess I will never know :sad:

[Snappy]

Harvey,
I have a piece just like that in my tank and I never knew what it was either. What would the rest of the name be? Pavona what?

[rickjames]

I got this piece from The Coral Hunter. He Had a specific name for it that I had never heard of before. It wasn't Hydnophora though. He said it was a rare coral that came on one of his shipments. Guess I will never know :sad:

Don't trust the name they call it at the store, they are often not even right on their order sheet. The polyps on that piece look hydno-ish to me. Maybe this one since it looks like an encrusting growth form?

http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/201-300/Species%20pages/215.htm

[danny zubot]

What kind of lighting do Cactus corals prefer. My frag bleached a bit after my light upgrade and hasn't recovered yet. I have kept it up high under 400 watt MH, too much?

[Reefhawk1]

Don't trust the name they call it at the store, they are often not even right on their order sheet. The polyps on that piece look hydno-ish to me. Maybe this one since it looks like an encrusting growth form?

http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/201-300/Species%20pages/215.htm


I think you are right, I found the recipt for the coral and it is listed as a Pectinia Coral. Did some searhing and found nothing like it so Hydnophora it is :mrgreen:

[rickjames]

What kind of lighting do Cactus corals prefer. My frag bleached a bit after my light upgrade and hasn't recovered yet. I have kept it up high under 400 watt MH, too much?

Mine is under 400W about a foot below the surface, hasn't bleached but also hasn't grown much in the 4 months i've had it.

[Delphinus]

Harvey,
I have a piece just like that in my tank and I never knew what it was either. What would the rest of the name be? Pavona what? I would guess Psammocora contigua (not Pavona sp. anymore).

[Van down by the river]

The First item is Psammocora contigua This coral is often overlooked by hobbyists as it often arrives brown. I've had many of these turn emerald green or brick red after settling into the reef. Cat's paw refers to numerous species.

As to the second one I'd say maybe Hydnophora exesa

but more likely: Pavona explanulata
Can you get a closer picture of the polyp structure?

[Funky_Fish14]

Sorry, I have no input on Harvey's msytery SPS, but to Stan, that appears to be the encrusting variety of hydnophora, which is much less common than the branching variety.

Chris

[Reefhawk1]

Sorry, I have no input on Harvey's msytery SPS, but to Stan, that appears to be the encrusting variety of hydnophora, which is much less common than the branching variety.

Chris

It defiantly is an encrusting coral and a slow grower as well.

I will try to get a closer picure of the polyp structure tommorow.