Is this a Leptastrea?

[Anonymous]

I've had this little guy for almost a year now, and have never had a proper ID on it. It's done best at the bottom of my tank, about 18" under 250MH and a bunch of T5 supplementation. It grows fairly quickly.

Here it is with polyps fully extended:

What I like most about this is the color combination. It's more pink in real-life:

What's strange about it is the whiteness between each polyp. It looks like bare skeleton. Here is how it looks at night, with polyps retracted, or in this case, after being poked by a sharp stick:

So any ideas about what it is?

 

[Anonymous]

Based on a quick Google images search, I think you've hit the nail on the head. Lovely looking coral.

 

[Len]

I agree, and a lovely (and healthy) specimen.

 

[Ben1]

I had a brown lepastrea that looked like that with green centers. I lost in under some rocks recently, I should go hunt for it.

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen these and wanted to buy, but didn't know a lot about them. So...they like lower light/flow?

 

[Anonymous]

After more G'search I too think it's probably Leptestrea. Thank you Tom and Len.

Ben, definitely try and dig yours out. With better light, it might be a diamond in the rough. :wink:

Tracy, It's been sort of Mystery Coral to me.

I never knew what to expect/do with it, so I can't say what it prefers. I don't think it likes 6" under 250MH, but my gut tells me that it wouldn't do well under Fluorescent only; though a full bank of T5s would probably be more than enough. I'd happily send you a frag, just PM me if you'd like a bit. I'd pay the postage. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Looks like one to me, I have 3 colors morphs of it, really interesting coral, doesn't send out aggressive sweepers but will hold its own against most SPS that get near it. Funny thing is my first two actually puddled onto the acrylic bottom and simply grew on that, I got an idea and placed them on a piece of thick branching rock (sort of), and sure enough they've molded to that as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok here's a picture I just snapped, sorry about the bottom, the white bottom oversaturates that part of the image, but they do encrust very readily onto rocks/acrylic/whatever

Here's the one on the far right as viewed from the side

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, I'm going to have to look out for these now. Craig and Mike's specimens look lovely.

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent pictures SFSU, thanks for posting them.

Nice to finally have the ID on this thing confirmed.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the frag JH! Anybody interested in seeing the rest of the goodies he sent me click the link to my nano thread

 

[Sea Turtle]

They really are a nice addition to the lower area of your tank. I have been wanting to add a couple of those soon.

 

[Anonymous]

That looks like a good way to mount it as well. Once it encrusts all over there, it should have a great shape to it.

 

[Anonymous]

Craig, what are you dosing your tank with now?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm using (DT's) Two Part for Ca/Alk and weekly 10% water changes.