Any “Elkhorn” Coral. Acropora Palmata experts? I.D. help needed.

[Glenner’sreef]

Liked the wide “moose antler” type of branches on this coral and bought it to add for variety.
Did not get an i.d. though. Beauty and price won out.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Doctorgori]

for whatever reason I’m thinking that’s not a Carribean type elkhorn or if it is, I’m calling the authorities

 

[KrisReef]

That looks to be a montipora with the Elkhorn pattern of growth?

Edit, Nice score! I love this shape of coral growth. I hope it keeps growing this way!

 

[Doctorgori]

That looks to be a montipora with the Elkhorn pattern of growth?

Edit, Nice score! I love this shape of coral growth. I hope it keeps growing this way!

now that you mentioned it I have a peach digitata ( or whatever it is) that grows almost just like that

 

[Glenner’sreef]

now that you mentioned it I have a peach digitata ( or whatever it is) that grows almost just like that

From what I’ve heard, Elkhorn is protected and not available for sale and grows very fast and large. Just wasn’t sure if there was a reef tank version.

 

[KrisReef]

From what I’ve heard, Elkhorn is protected and not available for sale and grows very fast and large. Just wasn’t sure if there was a reef tank version.

There is, but it is not for sale, legally.

It has been observed to be suffering from a lot of pathogenic challenges in the wild. There has been at least 10 years of mariculture efforts in the wild to replant it in Florida (and other Carribean locations?)

Last years heat wave was reported to have killed most/all of these outplanting efforts and a new white spot disease was observed in many places in the Carribean quickly killing the coral.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

That looks to be a montipora with the Elkhorn pattern of growth?

Edit, Nice score! I love this shape of coral growth. I hope it keeps growing this way!

Bet you may be right. I do have two green digis and although close these branches are definitely wider.

 

[Rollnwthdatide]

There is, but it is not for sale, legally.

It has been observed to be suffering from a lot of pathogenic challenges in the wild. There has been at least 10 years of mariculture efforts in the wild to replant it in Florida (and other Carribean locations?)

Last years heat wave was reported to have killed most/all of these outplanting efforts and a new white spot disease was observed in many places in the Carribean quickly killing the coral.

The coral "tree" nurseries did okay since they can put them in slightly deeper water then the ones planted in shallower waters. Mote Marine lab grows a lot of them and plants them. Got to see their on-land runs a few years ago. Pretty neat

 

[X-37B]

Liked the wide “moose antler” type of branches on this coral and bought it to add for variety.
Did not get an i.d. though. Beauty and price won out.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

Its an elkhorn montipora. I had one in my 120 and removed it as it was a weed, lol.
This is under halides.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

There is, but it is not for sale, legally.

It has been observed to be suffering from a lot of pathogenic challenges in the wild. There has been at least 10 years of mariculture efforts in the wild to replant it in Florida (and other Carribean locations?)

Last years heat wave was reported to have killed most/all of these outplanting efforts and a new white spot disease was observed in many places in the Carribean quickly killing the coral.

Wow, bad news!

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Its an elkhorn montipora. I had one in my 120 and removed it as it was a weed, lol.
This is under halides.

Very cool! I might just start referring it as an Elkhorn Monti. Until I hear something more convincing. Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Very cool! I might just start referring it as an Elkhorn Monti. Until I hear something more convincing. Thanks!

True Green Elkhorn Montipora Finally Discovered! | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

When it was first introduced in the early 2000s, the Elkhorn Montipora quickly became one of the fastest growing strains of aquarium corals. This coral grows so fast that within a few years it was no…

reefbuilders.com

 

[Glenner’sreef]

True Green Elkhorn Montipora Finally Discovered! | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

When it was first introduced in the early 2000s, the Elkhorn Montipora quickly became one of the fastest growing strains of aquarium corals. This coral grows so fast that within a few years it was no…

reefbuilders.com

Nice, very interesting! Thx.

 

[Hans-Werner]

There is, but it is not for sale, legally.

It has been observed to be suffering from a lot of pathogenic challenges in the wild. There has been at least 10 years of mariculture efforts in the wild to replant it in Florida (and other Carribean locations?)

Last years heat wave was reported to have killed most/all of these outplanting efforts and a new white spot disease was observed in many places in the Carribean quickly killing the coral.

Not only regarding this coral, but in corals it is especially easy due to fragging: Why not spread endangered species commercially? Can you imagine a better risk distribution?

I mean, if you only have one nursery and it gets destroyed, all is lost. If you have 1000 nurseries it is very unlikely that the same will happen to all.

 

[Doctorgori]

Not only regarding this coral, but in corals it is especially easy due to fragging: Why not spread endangered species commercially? Can you imagine a better risk distribution?

I mean, if you only have one nursery and it gets destroyed, all is lost. If you have 1000 nurseries it is very unlikely that the same will happen to all.

I must have 1/2 dozen post just on this forum promoting the exact same message
…I’ve also said before: over in the killifish/livebearer world I had at least 2-3 species or locations that only existed in captivity …

 

[encrustingacro]

Its an elkhorn montipora. I had one in my 120 and removed it as it was a weed, lol.
This is under halides.

M. digitata, not elkhorn Monti. Notice the lack of coenosteal ornaments

 

[GlassMunky]

Yea that’s just a montipora digitata that has a wide branch

The shape of the branches is highly affected by flow patterns in the tank.

 

[Gill the 3rd]

That looks like a green digitata to me. I have that growing in my tank as well, great coral.

I also do have a green elkhorn, it is very different than what you have pictured. I bought it from salwateraquarium.com/ORA. It grows quickly and is pretty neat. When I get home I can add a pic of the colony. Link below of where I bought it.

Aquacultured Marshall Island Nuclear Green Elkhorn Coral (Montipora sp.) - ORA

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[djf91]

I agree. M. digitata that is on the verge of shooting up branches.

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Here is a pic of my green monti digitata

This is my green elkhorn