hydrophora

kyrie_eleison · 03-30-2007, 10:02 AM

I wasn't entirely sure where to put this thread but I was curious as to whether any of you guys out there ever kept any hydrophora coral. I've tried googling it but the search is bringing up wishywashy stuff.

Fly Guy · 03-30-2007, 10:45 AM

Ive had this hydnophora for a year and a half. He was about 4" tall and 4" around when i got him.........he is now a 10" and 8" around and has been fragged several times.

he likes high light and medium-high flow.

He has been responsible for the deaths of more than a few corals. He doesnt go out of his way to do any damage, but if anything touches him by falling into him or him falling into them, either they or the part of them that touches him is TOAST.

kyrie_eleison · 03-30-2007, 10:50 AM

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL! Are they common? What are they considered? LPS or SPS? What other colors do they come in? Are they expensive? Photosynthetic? Filter-feeders? Both? Sorry for all the questions, I've just been more interested in finding diversities now.

Fly Guy · 03-30-2007, 11:01 AM

What they are considered is kind of a funny question.......and not one im qualified to answer.

heres Tom's response to that same question

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

on the LPS vs SPS designatioin, just as an aside there is no such designation either as anatomical or taxonomic for SPS or LPS in the coral science literature, although the appearance of the large single polyped corals that can exist as singe polyps (phaceloid and corallites > 4mm in dia) would tend to be somewhat a means of defining what LPS is within the hobby...

Most of them we see are green/brown like the one i pictured. I do have a small piece of one that has a blue hue to the green.

If you look online they arent overly expensive by any means. You can usually pick up a several inch frag for $20-30.

If would give you a piece of it if you were closer.......its getting dangerously close to a cap in my tank at the moment, and that arm is going to need cut shortly.........

heres another pic of him being ticked off and releasing some love into the tank...i took this about 6 months ago

Twitterbait · 03-30-2007, 11:20 AM

This is one of the meanest corals i have ever seen... the only contenders would be a galaxia coral or a carpet anenome... and I think the hydno would still win.

kyrie_eleison · 03-30-2007, 11:32 AM

Flyguy,

That's very interesting. I was just about to ask you what that slimy stuff was. I do find them very beautiful and intriguing. I will do some more research on that coral since I have been looking to get one.

Multiple Miggs · 03-31-2007, 07:34 PM

It's an SPS, and its very aggressive, without a doubt it would kick the arse of an LPS, including a Galaxea.

Reef-Keeper · 03-31-2007, 08:12 PM

everyone around here considers them an LPS, I, however, agree with this :

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdwyatt

on the LPS vs SPS designatioin, just as an aside there is no such designation either as anatomical or taxonomic for SPS or LPS in the coral science literature, although the appearance of the large single polyped corals that can exist as singe polyps (phaceloid and corallites > 4mm in dia) would tend to be somewhat a means of defining what LPS is within the hobby...

vvolfe1 · 05-08-2007, 05:57 PM

I'm not sure if this is the same or not. I recently got this with a new tank. Looks different but the polyps are the same. Eitherway I'd have to say it is a LPS this one is around 6-8 inches. As for the sting I have heard they are very mean but it appears that these zoos are pushing it back.

Fly Guy · 05-08-2007, 08:47 PM

Welcome to TRT vvolfie. Yours does very much look like a hydnophora of some kind. There are many different types.

Adnuces · 06-19-2007, 05:16 PM

I have one I bought as a 1 inch frag a year ago and it is now about 3 inches tall and around. It has and will consume anything that comes close to it by literally devouring it. Mean assed coral but very pretty.....mine is flourescent green with brown hairy polyps....

kalel1976 · 06-21-2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Multiple Miggs

It's an SPS, and its very aggressive, without a doubt it would kick the arse of an LPS, including a Galaxea.

I 2nd this. They are one of the most aggressive corals and will send out sweeper tentacles and attack other nearby corals. I would leave at least 6" of open area around it.

gwaco · 06-21-2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalel1976

I 2nd this. They are one of the most aggressive corals and will send out sweeper tentacles and attack other nearby corals. I would leave at least 6" of open area around it.

at least .

Fly Guy · 06-21-2007, 09:18 PM

I finally got rid of that huge specimen I posted in this thread and I gotta say in the couple years that I had it it NEVER once reached out with any sweepers to hurt anything. It surely was responsible for more than a few deaths in my tanks in the time that i had it, but it was always a result of something falling into it or vice versa. Corals that simply were placed within a couple inches of it were never hurt

fyrfytr1717 · 07-22-2007, 12:59 AM

I'm pretty sure this frag I got from a friend is a hydnophora as well, "Velvet Horn" or Hydnophora rigida to be more exact. Didn't realize they had such a reputation for being aggressive. If I had to choose, I'd put mine in the SPS category but if I had a flat colony like the one pictured above I'd probably be leaning toward LPS (even though the "categories" don't technically exist.) Anyone have a picture of one with sweepers out?