Blue Tort Color Question

[scoop]

I got this frag about 4 weeks ago. When I got it I was told it was an oregon blue tort. As you can see, it has polyp extension, and it has actually grown (added the top row of polyps). However, it has started turning bright green from the bottom up. You can see a little green at the bottom in this picture, it is much greener in real life. Any idea what might be happening here? It is towards the top in my 75 under 6 x 54 T5 lighting.

[YLChik]

my oregon blue tort had shades of purple green and blue in it

My guess would be it is adjusting it's pigmant to your light and water conditions. The same corals look different in different tanks.

It doesn't sound like anything is off, but it can be frustrating

HTH

[ckusnierek]

Dont always let names fool you... different tank different colors is all to often. We do alot of trading in our local reef club and it's amazing to see one of your frags in anothers tank sometimes it can be a totally different color....
Usually affected by water params and lighting.


I would be concerned if it was loosing color or browning.
I think it looks great I really like the colors...

[ckusnierek]

Amy and I must have been typing at the same time...

[Wiskey]

Is there still tissue and pylops on that bottom bit where the encrusting is bright green? Sorry,.. I"m on a little tiney computer (8" screen) and I can't tell.

In the case that there is tissue there, then turning a bit green toward the bottom can happen, it's really the fast growing tip that goes bright blue, the rest a deeper blue, and the bases can be greenish.

If there's no tissue there then that is algae in the skeliton making it show up as green, and this is caused by something Spanky always called phosphate wicking, which causes STN. If this does happen to be the case I would react by chopping it off, dipping it, and mounting on a fresh plug.

Whiskey

[scoop]

Wiskey, yes, the polyps on the green part are open and looking fine. I was told it might be a cali tort(?). Anyway, if it's not sick the green is cool. I just wondered if anyone had seen this and it was something bad. If it looks OK to you I'm fine with it. Thanks all for the responses!

[cronamator]

it is a california tort. they have a greenish hue w/ a more pronounced polyp extention. its kissing cousin, the oregon blue is more vivid blue(sometimes purple under t5) and has a less pronounced polyp extention. its a very hardy coral and seems less prone to stn like many acros are.

[scoop]

Thanks Frank, that sounds great to me.

[Fly Guy]

Originally Posted by cronamator

it is a california tort. they have a greenish hue w/ a more pronounced polyp extention. its kissing cousin, the oregon blue is more vivid blue(sometimes purple under t5) and has a less pronounced polyp extention. its a very hardy coral and seems less prone to stn like many acros are.

I would tend to agree that that is most likely the cali tort than the oregon.

However, the frag is way to small to put any real money on it. Ive cut frags off of my oregon and had them look real similar under not enough light

the deal is that the oregon can look like the cali in less than optimum conditions..........but the cali can never look like the oregon in optimum conditions

[scoop]

Fly, I'm getting good palyp extension and lots of growth on it. I also have it in a good spot for light. How would I know if it might look better under different conditions? I might be able to move it a little higher (maybe 3") - should I try, or would the stress be worse than the upside? If it's the oregon blue I'd really like it to 'blue up' like yours.

[scoop]

Fly, another thought: Since I have a lot more polyp extension than in your pic, is that an indicator it might be the cali? Also, I have it in pretty good flow. (If you want to sell a frag of yours I'll leave my existing one where it is and put your frag in the higher spot.)

[Fly Guy]

Most all torts can take all the light and flow you can give them. Just dont do the more light thing too fast like anything.

the oregon can show nearly as much pe as the cali...so i dont think thats a very good way to try to tell them apart



here is a recent shot of one of my oregons....... you can see it has fine PE as well as isnt quite as deep of colored as the last.....

[scoop]

Thanks Fly, I saw the pe thing from Frank above and wondered.

[kyrie_eleison]

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