While on a trip to Green Bay in 2004 to speak to the Wisconsin Reef Society, Steve Tyree
noticed an amazing coral that was being farmed at Gooch's Corals located within the Green
Bay area. This massive encrusting Montipora species had bright orange polyps that
contrasted nicely with the main body of the coral. Scott Gebhart of Gooch's corals had
originally recieved the coral in 2002. It was within a shipment of corals from a main coral
distributor located in Los Angeles. We do not know where the coral was originally exported
from. Scott maintained the coral in low light conditions. Areas of the main body of the
coral had a purplish/blue perhaps violet coloration.
Reeffarmers.com is slowly adapting the coral to brighter light levels where it appears the
main body coloration is getting more intense. The species indentification has been difficult.
The best guess of Reeffarmers.com is that this is a Montipora orientalis. This is due to the
corals very smooth surface (coenosteum). There is also a general lack of papillae or tuberculae
(bumps), but some raised areas have developed. This coral is very similar in general
charcateristics to the M. orientalis pictured on page 114 of Volume 1 Corals of
the World by Veron. There is also the possibility that this might be an orange
polyped Montipora mollis.
Update - Steve Tyree and Reeffarmers lost our fragments of this coral in late 2004. The
fragments sufferred a slow bleaching process which has been known to affect massive Montipora
corals from time to time. In the spring of 2005 however, Steve Tyree and Reeffarmers did
recieve two new seed fragments of this coral from Karl Unarce (reefnutz) of Northern
California. Karl had recieved his fragments directly from Gooch's corals. This two new seed
fragments are very healthy and have been growing very good. We thank Karl for allowing
Reeffarmers.com to continue distributing this very interesting stony coral.
Steve Tyree is currently maintaining this coral for reeffarmers.com in one of his 125 gallon
naturally filtered Tri-Zonal EG Reef Aquariums. In Steve's captive reef the coral is positoned
to recieve low light under a 400 watt 20,000 K Radium Metal Halide, but the coral is slowly
being moved to moderate light levels were the main body should turn more blue. The orange
polyp coloration of the coral is easily maintained within this reef. Water current is moderate.
Please note - Reeffarmers retired this coral in August 2010. It had long term problems with
bleaching.
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Closeup
Photo by Steve Garrett |
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2008 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2009 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2010 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2011 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2012 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2004 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| May |
Shipped to Eric N.
|
| July |
Shipped to Q. Bui
|
| September |
Picked up by H. Zuniga
|
| November |
Shipped to Ara D.
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2005 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2006 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled
|
Montipora orientalis Orange Polyps Year 2007 BiMonthly Limited Edition Schedule
|
| January |
Cancelled
|
| March |
Cancelled
|
| May |
Cancelled
|
| July |
Cancelled
|
| September |
Cancelled
|
| November |
Cancelled.
|
TM
