acanthastrea pics...lets see em!

[gregt]

This thread was split due to performance issues. You can find the previous portion of the thread here: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4556424#post4556424

[Maximus]

I want to be the first person to post on this future monster thread:)

[thirst]

I guess I will have to settle for #2.

[baja_01]

lol, wondered when it would get there:p

[organism]

woohoo, first pic :D

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/78789IMG_0727.jpg

[Tigahboy]

very nice!

[JenDub]

Pics pics pics who wants pics???
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/68276P10706011__Custom_.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/68276P1090620__Custom_.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/68276PA230330__Custom_.JPG

[Mchava]

here are my first one that I will be getting on sunday's swap.:D
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54516acan-l2.JPGhttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54516acan-l1.JPG

[Mchava]

hey Jen hope mine look like yours.:D;) I like the second one with the pink.:D

[JenDub]

sexy pieces Mchava...they will look hot in your tank on Sunday:D

[Mchava]

thanks. I hope they will grow fast too. Hey what are you folk feeding your acans. Will cyclopeez be okay or do I need someting else? Thanks

[brahm]

what nooooo now we gotta add, the two threads together. I was hoping it would hit the 1000 page mark one day.

[organism]

Originally posted by Mchava
thanks. I hope they will grow fast too. Hey what are you folk feeding your acans. Will cyclopeez be okay or do I need someting else? Thanks

I feed mine alternating mysids and chopped squid nightly, or every other night, depends... I used to feed cyclopeeze, but it didn't even look like they were eating it...

[mufflerguy]

My acan hillae(?) frag I got from George a while back, It grows at a pretty good clip.
Matthttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/38592corals_069.jpg

[mufflerguy]

BTW, nice piece danano!!!

[danano]

Originally posted by mufflerguy
BTW, nice piece danano!!!

Thanks mufflerguy! It's one of my favorite, on par with the lords!!

I'm letting it encrust and grow out a little more in the prop tank before moving it to the main display.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/3041215Feb05_006rc_danano_acan_lords_orange-green1.jpg

[bugsy714]

I agree with organism, I'm not sure if lords can digest cyclo as well as we thought. They seem to slime up in a way unlike normal eating.

I have been using finely chopped squid, oyster eggs and mysis all marinated in a sweet tasty, selcon and marineland delux saltwater sauce....Bon apetite hehe

[Mchava]

oh okay well i guess i will have to get some squid and mysis. thanks guys and gals

[SOREVIV476]

nice mario!!!

dude jen that pink and green is one sexy you know what! can i come over to see it lol man where do you find those?? me wants one!!!!!

[Mchava]

hey richard get in line i want one too.

[SOREVIV476]

hey mario is your lord the same color as mine? i want to get diff colors but no one wants to trade for my funky color lol

[SOREVIV476]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/55581000_1058.JPG

[Mchava]

not sure i still dont have it yet. sent you pm richard

[JenDub]

Originally posted by SOREVIV476
nice mario!!!
dude jen that pink and green is one sexy you know what! can i come over to see it lol man where do you find those?? me wants one!!!!!

anytime...but I will have to blindfold you, drive you around the block, pat you down and make you sign a contract never to reveal my identity.;) lol

[SOREVIV476]

lmao,

you must be a famous reefer. is this j-lo?

[Mchava]

hahahahahahaha. So Jen why is it that you dont want any one to know who you are? Are you hiding someting?

[JenDub]

not at all...I will be at the swap on sunday. I was just messing around. I have had a bunch of people at my house, I have nothing to hide but my credit card debt.;)

[Mchava]

yeah tell me about it. That is why i dont have any. Well see you at the swap on sunday Jen.

[marillion]

I shall contribute with what few I have...tho I'm getting a couple more lord frags in about 3 weeks.

http://www.chipcataldo.com/reef/lord1.jpg

http://www.chipcataldo.com/reef/clams-acanth1.jpg

Peace,

Chip

[Mchava]

here is a better picture of mine that I just got today. THanks Jen.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54516acanlord-JD-med.jpg

[bugsy714]

They look happy :D

[Mchava]

yes they do and here i thought they where not going to be happy. Here the first night and they are already feeding. WOW.

[bugsy714]

hehe, no joke, they'll eat right after being sliced in half right down the center! They are hogs

[Jus Reefin]

feed me

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31417100_0113.JPG

[bugsy714]

Jus- that piece looks familiar :D

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by bugsy714
Jus- that piece looks familiar :D

I'm sure it does :) I think it is my Favorite now

[fred says]

Originally posted by Jus Reefin
feed me

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31417100_0113.JPG
I'm jealous

[fred says]

Originally posted by Jus Reefin
feed me

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/31417100_0113.JPG
I'm jealous

[bugsy714]

those raspberry pieces have the stickiest tentacles I've encountered, they eat all the extra food like lil mikeys

[Jus Reefin]

hey Bugsy, I think it is happier in my tank :) send a few more my way and we can test the level of Happieness LOL HAHAHA

[davejnz]

This little baby i got as a single polyp(no skirt) in Jan. and has already sprouted 7 new ones.Cant wait until it gets colony size.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/378813-15-05.jpg

[RandyO]

Keep feeding the Acan Dave and those babies will be full polyps in another month. After that, they will put out another ring around them. Once your one that second ring of babies, it's starting to look like a colony. Also, try to feed the baby polyps too. It's usually a little harder to feed the small polyps, but it helps them grow big and strong. :)

It really is amazing how quickly a single polyp frag can turn into a colony.

[gemini aquarius(t)]

daang any one whant to donate a few lol:)

[davejnz]

thanks for the tip Randy :) Actually,i havn't been feeding all that much,just some mysis 1 to 2 times a wk.I've been having trouble getting the baby polyps to eat them before that pesky peppermint shrimp comes over to steal the food.

[Jovreefer]

Oh Oh... I wanna play along since the thread is shorter now :D and btw jen I'm with the mob here...that pink and green is amazing!!!!!!!!!

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/43844little_acan.jpg

[RandyO]

Originally posted by davejnz
thanks for the tip Randy :) Actually,i havn't been feeding all that much,just some mysis 1 to 2 times a wk.I've been having trouble getting the baby polyps to eat them before that pesky peppermint shrimp comes over to steal the food.

Get yourself some freeze dried Krill. Then feed a piece to the shrimp before you start feeding your Acan. The Krill will keep the shrimp busy long enough for the Acan polyps to swalow the food.
I've also used a plastic rod to poke at the shrimp if he comes near my Acans while feeding. But that can be very time consuming.

[eraml]

Alright this will soind stupid, but what exactly is an acan?
What kind of lighitng do they require?
I have seen these LPS's on various websites and they cost hundreds of dollars(aquadesignz-spelling). Why are they so expensive?

[bugsy714]

They do fine in pc, t5, and mh, but if you have 400 or 250 mh's you will have to keep them out of the sps zone.

They are expensive because people find them highly desirable and they only come into the country infrequently at best.

Hope this helps, you can read through the other 100+ pages in the old thread by clicking the link in the first post of this thread.

[davejnz]

acan is short for Acanthastrea.They are in the musiid family.There are many different species but A.lordhowensis is the one thats most desired.They are expensive because of there rarity in the trade(LFS almost never have them)and because of the demand for them.

[Freed]

What does everyone feed them?

[bugsy714]

meaty foods; mysis, squid, krill, oyster eggs, and some people use cyclopleeze but I'm starting to stay away from it

[Vili_Shark]

Hi Bugsy
why are ya staying away from Cyclop-eeze?

[bugsy714]

I & several other reefers have noticed the lords just slime up when you feed the cyclo, then they release a long booger with cyclo in the gel. I think they release this mucous because the cyclo doesn't dissolve, or it creates a defense response.

try replacing cyclo with oyster eggs, they are pricey but you've never seen your lords' coat shine like that before :D

[eraml]

Aight so i have a 20gallon high tank with 2x65watt Pc's, is that enought lighitng?
What kind of water flow do they like?
And do they require spot feeding?
If i like gave them some Formula 1 and/or Frmula 2 food when feeding my fish would that be enough food for them?

[bugsy714]

Lighting will be fine for excellent growth

Feeding- you will need to directly feed them at least once a week with the foods listed above. The more you feed the faster they grow

Flow-they like all types of flow except direct, high flow, they can be down on the sand in dead water or up on the rock in medium flow

[eraml]

Alright, are they a threat to sting an other nearby corals?
And where can i get some of the foods that were listed above?
Anyone have any frags that they are willing to sell?

[organism]

they can definitely sting corals you put them close to, they're pretty agressive, and you can find mysid, chopped squid, and other meaty foods at your local lfs most likely

[Vili_Shark]

Bugsy
Did you have the same expirience with other LPS as well?

[Duce]

Originally posted by organism
they can definitely sting corals you put them close to, they're pretty agressive, and you can find mysid, chopped squid, and other meaty foods at your local lfs most likely

They are also very very tough....my frag falled on top of a Ric for at least a few hours and it recovered. I don't think I have seen any corals that can survive that.

[CodeToad]

*quietly joins the club*

http://www.toadpool.com/reef/lps/acanlord.jpg

[RandyO]

Nice piece Matt.

I also have stopped feeding cyclopeeze, as I noticed the slime thing.

eraml,
Reef Central probably has the most information anywhere on Acanthastrea. It's right at your fingertips. All you have to do is type Acanthastrea in the Search option. That should keep you busy for a few months.

[bugsy714]

Randy-Have you switched to oyster eggs yet? They are like a multivitamin for your coral--pure nutrition

I still feed cyclo to the tank in genral, just don't hose my lords with it
I have an lps dominated display and a zoo/lps/softy frag tank attached to eat up all of my extra food.

I have found that foodstuffs taken from the ocean are just better for coral than freshwater shrimp like mysis

[RandyO]

Originally posted by bugsy714

I have found that foodstuffs taken from the ocean are just better for coral than freshwater shrimp like mysis

I couldn't agree more.

And to answer your question, no I haven't tried oyster eggs yet. I'll get around to it soon though.

[TippyToeX]

What an outstanding piece Matt!! :D :D

OK, I have a questions to the Acan Lord keepers. Recently I have found two teeny-tiny individual polyps on the sand bed. I was rooting around the tank moving my blastos around, when I saw a speck of red. Thought nothing of it and waited for the tank to clear up. There it was, that little speck of red again. I looked real close and it was a lord polyp. Then I found another yesterday! I'll snap some pics tonight.

Anyone else have that happen?

FWIW, the oyster eggs are wonderful. I just recently tired it. :)

[bugsy714]

Hi Amy :D

Were those spawn from a randyo red/green or red/grey? I have never heard of that with lords, but I know of people finding mini sunpolyps everywhere on thier rock Randy's lords are the only ones prolific enough to do something like that!

[RandyO]

Hi Amy.
Myself and my buddy with all the Acans have experienced this. It's like a polyp bail out. I'm not sure if it's from an injury or not, but a tiny piece of skeleton becomes detached from the main colony. The flesh is still attached at this point. Slowly, the skeleton starts to droop, pulling some flesh away with it. Eventually, the flesh breaks away from the mother colony, and the new polyp falls to the sand. The probelm we've had is then doing something with this piece of polyp that is fully surrounded by flesh. I've tried to glue it to the rock, but it did not take, and floated away. I know it's in my tank somewhere. I wish I had some pictures of the drooping flesh. Although, it was not a pretty sight to see your prized coral looking like it was falling apart.

Rignt now I am holding my buddy's corals, and he has a couple of these that took, and are now glued to a small piece of rock.

[bugsy714]

That's too cool, we had a drooper a while back, it's like we fractured the skeleton when we cut it and 2 weeks later it was dangling off. I saw it drop but spaced on it. I wonder if it's still roaming the tank somewhere...

[TippyToeX]

Good info Randy. That was more to my thinking, about a broken piece that might just have floated off after a fragging. I put my frags down on the sandbed to recover, so that makes a good amount of sense. :) Too cool. I'll just leave it be and see if it will develop a skeleton on it's own. I have yet to touch the little thing (I'm so klutzy I'd make it float off to the CL intake :rolleyes: )

Hey Bugsy, I'd wager it is still somewhere in there!

I'm off to take a pic of the little guy.

[bugsy714]

Yeah-- pix pix!

[baja_01]

I have had a good reaction using a fine cheese grader and some frozen shrimp. Then I use a small feeding syringe to shower the polyps when their feeding tenticles are out. They LOVE it.

I also feed crushed up prime reef as a staple, but nothing make them eat like raw seafood.

[bugsy714]

a mini cheese grater, I'm gonna have to see if that works for squid, good tip baja!!!!

[baja_01]

Make sure it is frozen hard though, otherwise is gets messy:p

[Freed]

When do you notice that the feeding tentacles are out most often? Night? Day? How often?

[sschafer]

Seems like the feeding tentacles are only really out at night on my Acanthastrea. My Micromussa, on the other hand, seem to have feeding tentacles out almost all the time. The Micro is eating like crazy and I have three or four baby polyps after only a couple weeks.

-Steve

Originally posted by Freed
When do you notice that the feeding tentacles are out most often? Night? Day? How often?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by sschafer
Seems like the feeding tentacles are only really out at night on my Acanthastrea. My Micromussa, on the other hand, seem to have feeding tentacles out almost all the time. The Micro is eating like crazy and I have three or four baby polyps after only a couple weeks.

-Steve

I have the same experiences that Steve has. My lords open at night, but my Micro likes to stay open all the time. My lords will open during the day if I introduce food. But they don't open all the way. Just enough to feed. At night they turn inside out.

[Jus Reefin]

Amy, let's see some pics of the little guys.

I feed mine Cyclopeeze and have not noticed the slime thing. I will pay more attention tonight when I feed them. I do notice that the meatier foods are easier for them to grab.


Has anyone noticed better growth in the shaded area's of your frags/colonies? I have a Red/green ( looks almost solid red/orange) that grows like mad. I started with only 3 polyps in novemeber and I now have 6, and that's after cutting and trading 7 polyps. What I noticed on this piece is the polyps on the botom of the frag seem to sprout new head faster. Any one else notice this?

[clownfishcrazy]

Where are you buying oyster eggs at?

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by clownfishcrazy
Where are you buying oyster eggs at?

I 2nd that! Are those called Golden Pearls???

[TippyToeX]

I buy DT's Oyster eggs (http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_additives_DTs_phytoplankton.asp?CartId=) :)

Hey Rob! I'll get the pic up this evening. :D

[eraml]

Any frags for sale?
PM Me

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by eraml
Any frags for sale?
PM Me

Email or PM people. Post like this will get the thread closed again. Thanks


Amy, thanks for the Link. I think my buddy has some of that, I will have to get a little from him

[clownfishcrazy]

Thanks Amy!

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Jus Reefin

Has anyone noticed better growth in the shaded area's of your frags/colonies? I have a Red/green ( looks almost solid red/orange) that grows like mad. I started with only 3 polyps in novemeber and I now have 6, and that's after cutting and trading 7 polyps. What I noticed on this piece is the polyps on the botom of the frag seem to sprout new head faster. Any one else notice this?

Hey Rob,
I do notice new polyp growth on the darker side of the Acans as well. Acan's produce new polyps by encrusting on the rock. As that flesh coats the rock, new polyps pop out of it. Typically, it makes a ring around the Adult polyps on the rock. It's possible that too much light can slow this encrusting process. But that's just a hypothesis. I've noticed the baby polyps are a different color that the adult polyps, especially if the baby polyps are in the shade. Until those baby polyps get more light, they don't get the adult coloration.

[hammerhead]

I would like to try some of these oyster eggs but the shipping is 25$ where else are these available

[scarab65]

Will the acans lose colour if I don't feed? Or is it too much or too little light? Got mine about 5 months ago and has seen it slowly lose colour. I don't feed them and place them on sandbed 2.5 feet from my 250W MH. Need advice.

[jrallison]

Getting my first acan tomorrow :D ... so excited!!!

[bugsy714]

scarab65-what species of acanthastrea? Echinata? lordhowy?

What type of coral do you keep in your tank? sps?

[yoshiod9]

Originally posted by hammerhead
I would like to try some of these oyster eggs but the shipping is 25$ where else are these available

check out your lfs. i picked some up at aqualife out here in rocklin(sacramento area) for 20 bucks. don't really know if they'll make a difference as i prefer feeding my acans meaty foods. whatever, maybe the sps will be happy. :D

check with dr. le...he usually is on top of fish/coral foods. gl!

[Freed]

How do you distinguish a lord from any other acan type?

[bugsy714]

http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralsearch.php

[baja_01]

http://www.citlink.net/~baja_01/DSC_1190.JPG

[Jus Reefin]

Sweet piece baja!

[scarab65]

Originally posted by bugsy714
scarab65-what species of acanthastrea? Echinata? lordhowy?

What type of coral do you keep in your tank? sps?

Its a Lordhowensis. I'm keeping a tank with 90% SPS with some zoanthids, ricordia floridas and some LPS like blasto, lobo, cynarina, echinophyllia and of course my only acan lords piece. :smokin:

[bugsy714]

It might be overlit, or the water is too clean

They like dirty, mineral rich water and lots of meaty food. You should give them some squid chunks and see if they get happy.

[fugupuff]

picture of a new piece i got yesterday! its huge! http://www.rarefish.us/image/coral10.jpg

[RandyO]

Looks like that is going to be a killer piece Fugupuff.
Great Score!

[yoshiod9]

ooohhhhh sooooo nice fugupuff!!! did you find that at a lfs? awesome score bud!

[SOREVIV476]

fugupuff is you store next to the highschool?

[JenDub]

nice piece:D

Where is your store? I want to see the "beast" in person, if I can?:)

[yoshiod9]

in case anyone was wondering what it looks like when acan lord attacks a cyphastrea ocellina frag... http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40242acan_attack_up_close.JPG

[SOREVIV476]

i believe its of the 60 freeway exit nogales across the street from nogales high school...in west covina

[Badmort]

Wow that piece is nice..
:D

[ejocam]

Originally posted by Badmort
Wow that piece is nice..
:D

Yeah real nice:eek2:

[Jus Reefin]

Sweet piece....now that Mussa on the website looks awefull familiar

[organism]

Originally posted by yoshiod9
in case anyone was wondering what it looks like when acan lord attacks a cyphastrea ocellina frag... http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/40242acan_attack_up_close.JPG

ouch... :eek1:

[fugupuff]

first picture one day after the being hammered and seperated from its siblings!http://www.rarefish.us/image/coral11.jpg

[fugupuff]

micro or acan? the mouth seems much deeper than the other micro piece that i have, and the polyps swell up much bigger, almost looks like its different, here is a close up view of it. at first i thought it was a micromussa, upon closer examination and feeding, they have more feeding tenticles and swell up bigger, the polyp size are increasing. the colony is half with green eyes, and the other half is solid red. http://www.rarefish.us/image/coral12.jpg

http://www.rarefish.us/image/corals1.jpg

[yoshiod9]

wow...really awesome piece there. micros have polyps that are up to 8mm...so if they're bigger than that...probably not a micro. :D http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/coralid_search.php

[SOREVIV476]

wow! fugupuf those are bad arse!!!

[bugsy714]

Fugu, try to poke it a little and get a shot with the polyps closed

[fugupuff]

hey bugsy, which one would you like me to poke? the micro looking one? hmmm...that is a bit closed, its normally really puffy...but yeah, i'll do that in a bit

[coralite]

originally posted by bugsy
"Fugu, try to poke it a little and get a shot with the polyps closed"

I think someone should poke bugsy to see if they can get his polyp to close! LOL





I am totally just kidding, please don't take it seriously.

[Blastomussaman]

Good one Fugu.

I say micro amak based on shape and size of polyp walls. Acan lords should have polyps easily bigger than any one of your fingers even when not plump (unless they are babies of course).

By the way, corallites up to 8mm, not polyps.

[Juan-Carlos]

Sweet piece Fugu!!

Send me a frag;)

-Jc

[bugsy714]

Polyp size is an unreliable indicator, I have tiny lords that look like micros, then I have micros that look like tiny lords.

If you get a retracted shot you'll have a better chance at a definite id (without a skeleton shot)

[JenDub]

fugu it is for sure a micro, I am 98% sure. Nice looking :D

[Blastomussaman]

Bugsy, I agree. I too have lords with polyp sizes like Micros and the other way around. But this, to me, looks like a pretty big colony. Even the biggest polyp shown is roughly half the size of a finger.

If you look closely at the second shot, lower left, the polyps are pretty much retracted. You can make out some of the skeletal walls of the corallites that are pretty angular, something you don't see much in Lords.

Well, then again, I'm no expert. Just a guess.

Don't frag this one Fugu, it would be a shame...

[clownfishcrazy]

These guys are atleast 3-4" apart, I didn't know that they could attack from so far away.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/japan2005/acanattacking.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/japan2005/acanattacking2.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/japan2005/acanattacking3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y73/japan2005/acanattacking4.jpg

[spud14]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/61254Resize_of_Resize_of_P1010002.JPG


http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/61254Resize_of_Resize_of_P1010011.JPG





[IMG]http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/61254Resize_of_Resize_of_P1010065.JPG


Todd

[gemini aquarius(t)]

tood those are so awsome i want some like that even though they arent acans

[yoshiod9]

uh...gemini...sorry to burst your bubble but the pics he posted ARE acanthastrea(subechinata). i just realized that maybe that was a real sorry attempt at a april fool's day joke. lol.

[SOREVIV476]

danny leave the kid alone lol

[TippyToeX]

Sorry this pic took so long. Dumb little polyp just tumbles around the sandbed. Finally it landed in a half way good spot to take a picture of.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/JonhaPatrick/zoos2029copy.jpg

[Juan-Carlos]

Cool Amy, looks like a little polyp bailed out:)

[Jus Reefin]

You better snatch it up and grab the SG

[bugsy714]

Amy-I had a polyp that size get loose in our prop tank, someone who bought a $10 zoo rock might just have gotten lucky...

[brahm]

i had that happen, i lost some polyps that way, now i glue em down.

[coralite]

I think this piece is an echinata.
http://www.tidalblue.com/jake/acanpistachioclose.jpg

[zeppelin]

Here is a new shot of one of the frags I got from Randy. His big polyp acan. Bought it a few months ago as two adult and one subadult polyp. Now its 7 adults, and another 6-7 babies. :D

http://www.cofba.org/users/zeppelin/LarrysFormula/saltwater%20tank/acanthastrea%20pics/040205-acan-pic.jpg

[TippyToeX]

Looking good Larry. :)

I'll put my little stray polyp in a SG (a 9ers one just for you Rob) tomorrow before a water change.

[Freed]

Zeppelin, are those lords?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by zeppelin
Here is a new shot of one of the frags I got from Randy. His big polyp acan. Bought it a few months ago as two adult and one subadult polyp. Now its 7 adults, and another 6-7 babies. :D

http://www.cofba.org/users/zeppelin/LarrysFormula/saltwater%20tank/acanthastrea%20pics/040205-acan-pic.jpg

Hey Larry. Looking good. I was recently telling someone about one of the Acans I sent you. Not that piece but the other. It started out as 4 tiny polyps on a rock around June. It took a while for them to get bigger, but they finally started to reproduce around the end of summer. When that rock got to be 12 or so polyps, I cut it clean in half. You got one half, and I remounted the other to grow out again.
Well, I just cut it up a few days ago. It made 7 total frags, some more than 6 polyps each, some only 2 or 3 polyps.
It really is amazing how fast they can grow. My giant mother colony does not grow as fast as these smaller pieces. I think the more they are cut up, the faster they grow.

[Freed]

RandyO, are those lords?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Freed
RandyO, are those lords?

Freed.
Most likely. No one knows for sure, but that is what I call them.

[zeppelin]

This colony is growing much faster than the other. Cant wait for the other one to take off too.

Hi Amy. ;)

Freed, these are definitely what is considered "Lords", although "technically" they may not be. They may not specifically be from Lordhowensis Island in Australia, but I would say they are the same type of coral.

Anyone know where THAT is at? Classifying all the different "lords" that are now available?

[brahm]

None of the lords, we have. Are from Lordhowensis Isle

[brahm]

dp action

[yoshiod9]

zep- lordhowensis is the scientific name...therefore, anything of the same species is still called lordhowensis. it's not like people who claim that you don't have PPE's unless you bought them directly from blane perun or you can trace the lineage to blane perun.

as brahm said, no one here has any lords from australia. it's illegal to export them from that area. :D

[Blastomussaman]

People, *Lord Howe Island.

[brahm]

Acording to you! I am the third removed cousin of the brother of the sister of the nephew of the friend of the chef of great Lord of Howe. Who are you to tell me

[mufflerguy]

Dude, you are too much!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stoneyscoral]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11990mini-DSCN1115.JPG

[Stoneyscoral]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11990mini-DSCN1115.JPG

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Cherryproperty
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/11990mini-DSCN1115.JPG

Cherryproperty,
Where's the comentary like, "Here is my lord I've had for _____ amount of time and it doing very ______, and thanks to _____, and so on.
:)

[bugsy714]

hehe, randy are you investigating? :D

[brahm]

ha, you gotta say something when you post a pic..

[bugsy714]

They might have been building the suspense, just waiting for us to beg for info...hehe...you know how many words a picture is worth...

[Stoneyscoral]

Actually I couldn't think of anything clever to say so I just posted the pic.

But since you asked, I got these guys in exchange for my hsa1000 skimmer from a nice lady in Florida.

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by TippyToeX

I'll put my little stray polyp in a SG (a 9ers one just for you Rob) tomorrow before a water change.

Music to my ears, especially the 9ers part!

[TippyToeX]

I happen to bleed red and gold as well. :D

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by TippyToeX
I happen to bleed red and gold as well. :D

If I weren't already married I would ask you to marry me :) I have 49ers tatted down the back of my Leg:eek2:

Are you still coming down this week?

[Anemone]

Originally posted by TippyToeX
I happen to bleed red and gold as well. :D

As long as that represents a norcal pro team and not a socal college team, I'll still love you... :D

Kevin

[TippyToeX]

Definitely the pro norcal team! I was born in SF and raised north. If I don't love the 49ers something is very very wrong with me. :D

[TippyToeX]

Originally posted by Jus Reefin
Are you still coming down this week?

D'oh! Totally missed that Q. Next week. We shall talk this week. :D

[hammerhead]

http://www.mrrobertson.com/acan.jpg
with flash
http://www.mrrobertson.com/acan1.jpg

[gflat65]

You ought to call that thing an Audrey 3:).

[bugsy714]

hehe, I'll post a pic of my giant randyo red/grey, now that thing is an audrey3...hehe

[RandyO]

Ok, someone has to ask. What's an audrey3?

[Jus Reefin]

SWEET PIECE HAMMERHEAD!

[sschafer]

Here's a Micromussa I got about a month ago:

http://www.frontiernet.net/~sschafer/Images/Micromussa.jpg

It already has about six baby polyps growing on it now.

-Steve

[hammerhead]

Thanks I got a nice colony for a fair price I could not pass up

[sschafer]

Next edition of "Little Shop of Horrors"?

Originally posted by RandyO
Ok, someone has to ask. What's an audrey3?

[broden]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/80036HPIM1023.bmp
my first frag of lordhownesis
_____________

Bill

[baja_01]

hmmm, is that a rock?:p

That is one tiny pic.

[broden]

sorry trying to get a bigger pic but keeps telling me file is to big

__

Bill

[Anemone]

Originally posted by RandyO
Ok, someone has to ask. What's an audrey3?

Audrey was the female lead in the Broadway musical (and movie) "Little Shop of Horrors." Audrey 2 was the name of the man-eating plant that was the real star...

So, Audrey 3 would be......

Kevin

[Freed]

How much do the micromussas go for compared to the lords?

[brahm]

about the same

[Blastomussaman]

In terms of rarity, micros are much harder to find.

[Freed]

I will have to post pics later of what I have. Don't know if they are lords or micros but would like an ID if someone can hook me up with one. Thanks.

[brahm]

Originally posted by Blastomussaman
In terms of rarity, micros are much harder to find.


;) not as of late. check ebay.

[bugsy714]

hehe, three micros vs twenty plus lords? hehe that's some fuzzy math...

[Freed]

If I have micros then I guess I need to put them on Ebay, huh?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Anemone
Audrey was the female lead in the Broadway musical (and movie) "Little Shop of Horrors." Audrey 2 was the name of the man-eating plant that was the real star...

So, Audrey 3 would be......

Kevin

I recognized the name, but could not remember what it was from.

Thanks

[brahm]

Originally posted by bugsy714
hehe, three micros vs twenty plus lords? hehe that's some fuzzy math...

20 plus lords? Hmm, I Don't rember seeing that many, and I wasn't being literal. I was refering to the fact they are just as easy to get as lord if you go on ebay.. wether there is 1, 3 or 20, they are just a click and bid away.

[Blastomussaman]

I meant in terms of documented rarer in the world's reefs.

And if you need to bid 2 grand for a few micro polyps (which I've seen in past), I would consider that supply side is not quite adequate.

[bugsy714]

According to whelk for micros:
Abundance: Uncommon in mainland Japan, rare elsewhere

For lords:
Abundance: Sometimes common.

There you go, there have been a few micros offered lately but I'd wager that there are far fewer micros in the country than there are lords

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by Freed
If I have micros then I guess I need to put them on Ebay, huh?

Your askin to be flamed with this one.......not by me but someone

[brahm]

Ok Ok We got it... Micros and dendros' next big thing super Rare..just relax I already said i wasn't being literal. Don't make a bigger deal out of this then it is.

[JenDub]

brahm what's up??? You seem to be a bit moody lately. Chill out bro. :)

[brahm]

...me? nah I made a I general statement and you man jumps all over it like I was trying to preach the gosple.

as..far as that other thread.. I was meerly speakin the truth.

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by JenDub
brahm what's up??? You seem to be a bit moody lately. Chill out bro. :)

I would have to agree. I think you need your Acan Fix brutha :) J/K

[JenDub]

my man stays up reeeal late surfin the boards so he might be a bit tired when he types but he means no harm. No one is jumpin on anyone here...we are all pals.:D Don't be sooo defensive.

[Jus Reefin]

:)

[brahm]

I've been jaded..to many n00bs, not enough new corals.

[brahm]

ok ok, lets get back to pics..

http://tinypic.com/2l8dc3

My new babie.. :) well part of it

[sschafer]

Brahm, that is purty!

-Steve

[JenDub]

it looks like glow sticks.:)

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by JenDub
it looks like glow sticks.:)

LOL ya it does!

[Blastomussaman]

Oooh nice... Imagine a full blown colony... Keep us updated brahm.

[Freed]

What is this one that I have?
I got a rock a couple weeks ago with nothing but dead skeletons and about 8 small polyps. Since then the polyps have multiplied to about 13. There are also some remnants of dead polyps turning into full polyps. Any one have some insight? Thanks.

The color around and inside the red is supposed to be showing a very brilliant green. Darn it.

http://home.comcast.net/~reedsreefs/Picture_004.jpg

[RandyO]

Originally posted by brahm
ok ok, lets get back to pics..

http://tinypic.com/2l8dc3

My new babie.. :) well part of it


Nice Caulastrea Brahm.;)

Freed.
Not sure what you got there, but it looks promising.

[brahm]

here is the parent

http://www.rarefish.us/image/coral8.jpg

[Freed]

Can anyone else ID my new recruits above?

[brahm]

it's a Indo lord,

[Freed]

Is that a good thing? I don't know much about the different types of lords at all. Is it one that is highly sought after? High dollar? I paid a couple bills for 8-10 polyps but could have been taken for all I know. It was just a spur of the moment purchase while I was buying something else at the time I was in the store.

[brahm]

It's a nice piece, they are all sought after. Give it a few months and feed it regulary and you will be VERY happy with it.

[thirst]

poor people like me can only afford these tiny frags =) Need some steriods to make it grow =)

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/1442microredturquoise.jpg

waddaya thinK?

[fugupuff]

chow time, i believe this is acan. lord "not from indo", and not micro. as some have seen and determined, due to the way it feeds, and the steady growth of the polyps, and the location where its collected, all lords, no other micros. were found, thoughts? http://www.rarefish.us/posts/chow time.jpg

[brahm]

Originally posted by fugupuff
chow time, i believe this is acan. lord "not from indo", and not micro. as some have seen and determined, due to the way it feeds, and the steady growth of the polyps, and the location where its collected, all lords, no other micros. were found, thoughts? http://www.rarefish.us/posts/chow time.jpg

Is that the other piece I got a frag of? Dan's sending them to me next week

[fugupuff]

no, this piece i've not had the heart to frag it yet. it came from "not indo" and collected alongside the other green ones you see in the picture on a small reef patch, in deep water. only a few colonies were found at that site from what i heard.

the piece that you got is a micromussa amakuensis, it was collected over 1000 miles away. they don't feed the same way, and the tentacles don't come out the same way. maybe jendub can share, since she has so many colonies of "both", especially the "micro" here is the picture of the frag that you'll be receiving, very nice contrasting colors!http://www.rarefish.us/posts/micro.jpg

[Blastomussaman]

Micro Amaks feeds exactly like a lord. Micro Amaks are like small lords as blasto m. to blasto w. The only difference is the corallite size and structure. Heck, they used to be acans 10 years ago!

I'm almost certain that's a micro. From brahm's pic with the green lord colony, the one on the left is a micro amak colony. Hmmm....looks a lot like yours?

Where was it collected by the way?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by fugupuff
chow time, i believe this is acan. lord "not from indo", and not micro. as some have seen and determined, due to the way it feeds, and the steady growth of the polyps, and the location where its collected, all lords, no other micros. were found, thoughts? http://www.rarefish.us/posts/chow time.jpg


No one knows for sure what species these corals are. Judging by the polyp size, I would say this piece is the same as the others we all have been calling Micromussa. The difference between lords and micros is mainly the size of the corallite, and lords have more septa.

I can understand now why Anthony Calfo refers to his Acan as an unidentified Mussid

[RandyO]

We think alike Blastomussaman.

Like you said, look at the size difference in this pic. The green colonies look like lords, and this red with yellow center look like Micromussa.
http://www.rarefish.us/image/coral8.jpg


What's the red coral on the bottom?

[Blastomussaman]

Red Tongas! Hahaha.

Need a closer shot, but it could be an Acan Maxima! :thumbsup:

[RandyO]

Originally posted by Blastomussaman
Red Tongas! Hahaha.

Need a closer shot, but it could be an Acan Maxima! :thumbsup:

Was thinking the same thing, but thought it could be a big Blasto. Need a better shot for sure. :)

[brahm]

Originally posted by fugupuff
no, this piece i've not had the heart to frag it yet. it came from "not indo" and collected alongside the other green ones you see in the picture on a small reef patch, in deep water. only a few colonies were found at that site from what i heard.

the piece that you got is a micromussa amakuensis, it was collected over 1000 miles away. they don't feed the same way, and the tentacles don't come out the same way. maybe jendub can share, since she has so many colonies of "both", especially the "micro" here is the picture of the frag that you'll be receiving, very nice contrasting colors!http://www.rarefish.us/posts/micro.jpg

very nice, I can't wait.. I'm going to glue it right next to the frags I got from JenDub. :) Those ones are doing really well.

[brahm]

Originally posted by Blastomussaman
Micro Amaks feeds exactly like a lord. Micro Amaks are like small lords as blasto m. to blasto w. The only difference is the corallite size and structure. Heck, they used to be acans 10 years ago!

I'm almost certain that's a micro. From brahm's pic with the green lord colony, the one on the left is a micro amak colony. Hmmm....looks a lot like yours?

Where was it collected by the way?

Those are his, I got my frags from him.

[brahm]

here is my actualy lord frag.. :) Can't wait get it next week.

http://www.pbase.com/brahm/image/41786512.jpg

[keckles]

Originally posted by RandyO
What's the red coral on the bottom?

B. wellsi

[Blastomussaman]

Wow, those are some big polyps, nice!

[JenDub]

Originally posted by fugupuff
... maybe jendub can share, since she has so many colonies of "both", especially the "micro" ....

Hehehe....that's why I posted a micro thread. I know you guys have some so we need somewhere to post. I didn't want to flood this one. Nice pic fugu:D

[Jovreefer]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/jovreefer/Acan.jpg
My first acan has 3 babies now :)

[Blastomussaman]

Here's the newest addition to my acan family! Can't wait till it colors up.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77416Acan_Lord1.jpg

[Maximus]

Somehow, my red/gray from Randyo has managed to eat a copepod. How the hell it got it is the mystery. One strange thing that I noticed about this frag is that the feeders are out almost 24/7. I think Randy has been experimenting with his acans as of late:) Mutant acans!

[broden]

going to try this again here is a pic of my first lord.:) thumb0.webshots.com/t/44/45/5/84/20/319558420dqckXl_th.jpg

[broden]

third time a charm?:) http://img132.exs.cx/img132/610/hpim10682er.png

[Blastomussaman]

Oh, I love that color!

[broden]

thanks, I hope it is one of many.I have become very fond of acans since I first saw one at a LFS.

_____________


Bill

[vpham24]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/Tecra/PICT0238.jpg

[vpham24]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/Tecra/PICT0237.jpg

[vpham24]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/Tecra/PICT0235.jpg

[vpham24]

close up of 2nd pix.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v670/Tecra/PICT0130small.jpg

[chideloh]

Couple of pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture220.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture214.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture209.jpg

[Mchava]

here is my newest one for me its no lord but still a cool color morph.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/54516orangering-acanechinada.jpg

[Blastomussaman]

Originally posted by chideloh
Couple of pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture209.jpg

Those are some nice macro shots especially the colors on this one. What kind of camera do you use by the way? How do you take such high definition shots and resize to 50k?

[mschriskim]

Yes, I want to know how to take micro shots as well... Even my camera is not so bad this is what I could take...
I have a minolta dimage 7i

Do I need to buy 2x or 3x Tele lens?

I was thinking about buying one to try out but...

Oh, here is my Lord so far and many more to come : )

Someone might notice where they are from ... : )

Chris
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77370Lredgraylord1.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77370Lredgraylord.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77370Lredgreenlord.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/77370Lgreenlord.jpg

[AQUAN8TOR]

Not a lord, but here's my Acan. subechinata:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/15535mini-Some_really_good_stuff_007.jpg

I got it for about $25. I thought that was a good price...hehe

[Jus Reefin]

Originally posted by chideloh
Couple of pics.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture209.jpg

wow,I really like this one:)

[chideloh]

Thanks guys. That one is one of those "not Indo" ones. :)

I use an old camera, Nikon 990, with no extra lenes. I also use Mihov Image resizer which you can get it for free on web, I think.

[Scott Wilson]

Here is my humble addition.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/518/13480acan.jpg

[Jus Reefin]

Sweet piece!

[Scott Wilson]

Originally posted by Jus Reefin
Sweet piece!

Thanks

[RandyO]

Check out this article on LPS Propagating by Anthony Calfo, for Marine Depot.


"Smaller LPS polyps, compared to Fungia mentioned above, such as Faviid closed brain corals (Acanthastrea sp. pictured here)
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_3.jpg
are remarkably hardy. In "closed brain" coral colonies, single polyps can be cut away from the main colony and glued (cyanoacrylate) to a new substrate, or kept as free-living frags for fast and easy continued propagation." photo by Anthony Calfo
"Most Faviids are so tolerant that you can literally cut a single polyp in half and get fast recovery and growth. For coral farmers, genera such as Acanthastrea are outstanding candidates as their cycle of harvest is nearly as fast as Xenia soft corals!" photo by Anthony Calfo
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_4.jpg
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_5.jpg
"The process of halving an LPS polyp certainly can appear gruesome at first." photo by Anthony Calfo
"Recovery of propagated Faviid polyps can be surprisingly quick. They resume what semblance of polyp extension they can muster only mere hours after being split (polyp at left in image). After a few days to a week, a cut polyp is completely recovered and grown out to full form (middle polyp). An in as little as two weeks, it will divide naturally to form two whole polyps, which can be split again (right polyp in image at the right)! Brood colonies can be doubled every 2-4 weeks; that is extraordinary growth and a fast cycle of harvest, providing many divisions to share with friends, local hobby clubs and local aquarium shops. Everyone in the hobby benefits with such successful coral propagation practices." photo by Anthony Calfo
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_7.jpghttp://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_6.jpg
http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_8.jpghttp://www.marinedepot.com/IMD/propagating_lps_anthony_calfo_9.jpg

"A close-up of a healing Acanthastrea polyp one week after being cut. Polyps like this can live as free-living (tumbling a bit) specimens in a reef if given adequate food and water flow. Although free-living colonies are not practical for display, they are convenient for coral propagation for quick "cut-drop-heal" sequences. The benefit is more and faster production over time. Tradable colonies can be fixed/mounted just before sale, or the end consumer can simply secure the coral on a preferred substrate of their own." photo by Anthony Calfo
"In as little as two weeks, one polyp has healed and grown out to become two. I like to simply chop them in half with a razor blade or sharp poultry shears to double my collection about twice monthly." photo by Anthony Calfo
"The popularity of LPS corals is no wonder for their fleshy mass, sharp colors, vigorous appetites, and great beauty. Sadly, they are some of the poorest candidates for wild collection. Slow recovery to collections or damage (pollution, natural disaster, etc.) demands that we, as aquarists, recognize the critical need to domestically aquaculture these animals and wean ourselves off of a dependence on imports." photo by Anthony Calfo


Link to article.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_marine_depot_educational_newsletter_articles_calfo_propagating_stony_corals_pics.asp

[gemini aquarius(t)]

wow

[Narkon]

Uh, anyone doing that cutting on a regular schedule, I like a cutting. :)

[hammerhead]

Are Lords individuals IE does each polyp need to be fed or will each polyp feed the colony?

[RandyO]

Originally posted by hammerhead
Are Lords individuals IE does each polyp need to be fed or will each polyp feed the colony?

This question has come up many times in the past. In my opinion, they share nutrition. The way they grow new polyps has me to believe that. The polyp gets larger, and it's flesh spreads out on the rock. As that flesh gets farther away from the Main polyp, a new baby polyp develops. This baby polyp can quickly grow into a new polyp without ever receiving any food, and sometimes no light. These polyps can be shaded by the adult polyp completely, but still develop. Many times, they finally get big enough to poke their heads out from under the adult polyp, and their color is completely different from the adult. That's from the lack of light. But eventually, they will start to look like the adult.

I don't know enough about coral Anatomy to tell you how they can share nutrition. But if I had to give it my best guess, I would say though the flesh. The flesh connects these corals together. And when we cut away a polyp that was growing very quickly from the mother colony, we pretty much are setting that guy out on his own.
I'm sure a Microbiologist could shed some light on this.

[RandyO]

OK,
I had to get the books out.
From The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium Vol. 2, by Fossa and Nilsen.

"Cnidarians have two layers of cells: The Epidermis(Ectoderm) on the outside, and the Gastrodermis(Endoderm), on the inside. Between the Epidermis and the Gastrodermis lies the Mesogloea. The mesogloea consists of a special amorphous substance formed by both the Epi- and Gastrodermis, and may contain motile (amoeboid) cells, which are capable of transporting substances within the animal. "(page 18,19)

"In a study involving Montastrea cavernosa, they found that 20% of the energy demands are met by capturing plankton, which is most effectively done during the night. Porites lobata only meets 10% of its food requirements by capturing plankton. The way the plankton is caught differs from one species to the next. In general we can say, however, that species with large polyps and big tentacles capture more plankton that species with small polyps." (page 26)


What I get out of this last passage is that if you want a coral to not only live, but thrive and multiply, you should be giving it at least 100% of it's food requirements. Reproduction is one of the final requirements of an animal. Survival is the first.
So while a coral can be starved, and survive, if you want that coral to reproduce, you have to feed it and make it strong enough to do so.

[Mchava]

great info there randy. That seem to be the case with acans for instance if you feed them everynight it will grow faster but if you only feed once a week then it will take longer for that piece to develope any babys correct?

[hammerhead]

Thanks Randy Thats good to know. Is it your opinion that all Acans feed in this way.

[hammerhead]

Does anyone use Rotifers to feed there Acans?. I was thinking of using these for my Micromussa.

[Freed]

I use mysis shrimp to feed mine. They eat every night if the food is available to them. I also make sure and blow any detritus or gunk off of them every day and night. I started with 8-10 whole polyps and numerous tiny slivers of lords that were left from the dead and dying polyps on the rock when I bought it. I now have about 15-25 tiny polyps sprouting and counting.

[hammerhead]

More pictures
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/30223Micromussa3.jpg

[coralite]

I love the texture on that one michael! it could be mistaken for a group of ricordea. Very nice.

[Narkon]

Love the orange color on top, and the red color in less light.

[DRZL-sauras]

Originally posted by chideloh
Couple of pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture220.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture214.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v627/chideloh/mini-Picture209.jpg

:eek:

What is proper ettiquete for begging/asking for a single polyp? Anyone?

Very nice bro, cool to have some East Coasters w/ choice pieces.

Andres

[chideloh]

Thanks Andres !! :)

[Narkon]

Originally posted by DRZL-sauras
:eek:

What is proper ettiquete for begging/asking for a single polyp? Anyone?

Very nice bro, cool to have some East Coasters w/ choice pieces.

Andres

I think its through PMs, but don't quote me on that, for I haven't yet, well not since I got a bigger tank, and now have no money.

[DRZL-sauras]

I know that!

I mean like a friendly icebreaker or something, secret hand signal maybe?
anyways chideloh PM sent ;)