Montipora question.

[SolarEclipse]

First off I would just like to say, hello! I am new to The Reef Tank. Also what is the difference between a poker star montipora and a rainbow montipora? In some pictures rainbows sortof look like pokers and the other way around.

Also could someone explain or direct me to a link that would have some good information about all the different types of montipora? I just read a thread about it, and there was just some names of montipora and I was just getting more and more confused, I looked on google, but I was just looking for one that had all of the species right there with particular growth patterns and such. Thank you!

[jjc0987]

pokerstar has a purple/blue base with all green polyps
rainbow has a purple/blue base with green, yellow and orange poylps. Usually the younger poylps on the outside are orange, and these turn green over time as the colony increases its size

[SolarEclipse]

Thank you. I didn't know there was a limit to the pm feature, tried to pm, I couldn't, lol. I tried to pm Fat Tony, so if your out there Fat Tony come here XD, please?

[Jadinop]

Here is a site for coral id's with pics. Be sure to scroll below the "most popular images" on the top or the pics will never change from page to page.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/photos_corals/

One thing that is confusing in this hobby is the common mixture of scientific names along with made up hobby names.

Pokerstar monti is a made up name while Montipora danae is a scientific name. I wouldn't get caught up too much in the overhyped LE name game. If you find a coral with nice colors that you like it doesn't matter what name some hobbiest made up for it.

[Fly Guy]

I agree with not getting caught up in the name game, but the color variations that were described in this thread arent exactly how it is depending on what rainbow variant you are talking about. The trendy hyped up "LE" rainbow in fact has bright red polyps on the growing edge with distinct orange/yellow and green polyps as well. Many others are avaialbe that can never get the distinct color variations in any condition. Just becasue it is an LE, doesnt mean that you cant find the exact same coral for cheaper if you get lucky, but if you buy a LE from a reputable farmer or hobbyist who actually grew the coral, and didnt just pull it from the ocean and sell it, you know what you will be getting, as well as aquacultured corals tend to do better as they are used to what we dish out to them.

[Fat Tony]

The name game is only important if you are looking for that specific piece. The only reason that they go for more money is because typically you know exactly what you are going to get. The downside to this is that often times you aren't getting the true named version as vendors try to take advantage of the named LE corals. My rule of thumb, find something you like and pay a fair price. I do not mind paying a higher price for lineage corals from good honest vendors. My Tyree Rainbow is darker purple base with green/yellowish polyps in the old growth and blue base with orange/redish polyps on the new growth.

HTH

[SolarEclipse]

Yeah, most pieces I get because they look good, and aren't that expensive, or I think about what color or texture I need in my tank. Then I go from there.