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Long
Tentacled Plate Coral
Long Tentacle
Disc Corals are a bottom dwelling stony coral, however they are
often mistaken for Sea Anemones. This is because when their tentacles
are fully open they completely obscure their skeletons, giving the
illusion of a soft bodied Anemone. Much the same as Fungia sp. discs,
Heliofungia's skeleton forms a cupped disc with ridges that radiate
from a central oral opening. These corals come in a variety of colours,
usually green, pink, or purple. Tentacles extend several inches
upward on the upper side of the animal, and may have brightly coloured
tips. These Corals have a medium aggressiveness rating because they
are quite mobile on an open surface, and can sting other corals
that it may come into contact. Place this specimen on a gravel or
rubble bottom in direct light, with a medium to low water movement.
Blue
Staghorn Acropora
Acropora is
one of the most popular and easily recognisable corals in the aquarium
world. It is easy to propagate and if given the proper conditions,
not difficult to maintain. Lighting must be high and supplemental
planktonic foods can be given occasionally. Trace minerals and calcium
levels should also be kept high for proper skeletal formation. Colours
can vary from browns to blue, green, or pinks. This light blue staghorn
colony is a highly prized form only rarely seen in the hobby.
Green
Scroll Coral
Scroll Coral
often grows in either plate-like or curly, rolled patterns. This
variety is bright green in coloration, though the polyps may be
slightly lighter. These corals will thrive under moderate to high
lighting and water flow.
Red
Scolymia Coral
Scolymia corals
look very similar to and are often confused with Cynarina corals.
However Scolymia do not expand their fleshy skin as much as Cynarina
and have different skeletal structures. Their care is very similar
however, requiring strong lighting between 3-5 watts and moderate
water flow over them. They may be fed meaty foods such as brine
shrimp or krill which they will direct to their mouth, normally
located at the centre of the coral. Scolymia are found in various
colours such as green, red, blue and some coloration that blend
more than one colour together. These colours vary from coral to
coral with the most common one being found being the green coloration.
The red colour of this colony is quite rare. When placing in the
aquarium secure coral so that they will not be knocked over which
may damage the skin and cause infections?
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