[weez1959]

My flower pot coral is doing something weird, is it sick or reproducing or what?
In case it's not clear in the pic, from what I can see it's making a walnut sized lump and it's sticking out quite far. Anyone know what it's up to?

[zhenya]

Louise,

Goniopora sp. corals been known to drop babies in captivity if everything is to their liking. Keep an eye out for developements in those couple of polyps and see if it starts to swell more and possibly detach. Keep us posted.

[dibenni]

Louise,

I am not sure what it is doing. But I am curious - how long have you had this coral? Other posts on this site suggest that flower pot corals do not survive in captivity. I have had one for about a month and it is doing great - but was upset to see others' opinions on this site after I purchased it. Truthfully - it was the first coral I had bought without first researching it on this site, but my wife was with me and she liked it so I had a moment of weakness.

As Gene said - keep us posted!

Nick

[CSeaSee]

I agree. When I first saw the pic, I thought "reproduction", and I'd wager that's what it's preparing to do. Are those polyp bases in your circled area new? They look underdeveloped, and if they're new, I'd expect them to get bigger over the next week. Take a pic every couple days if you can...

[Frodo]

looks like you have some babies on the way

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Frodo

looks like you have some babies on the way

Yes, it's the beginning of a Goniophyte.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by dibenni

Other posts on this site suggest that flower pot corals do not survive in captivity. I have had one for about a month and it is doing great - but was upset to see others' opinions on this site after I purchased it.

There are 22 different species in the genus Goniopora. Some species may be easier to keep than others. It's hard to say. One of the reasons it's hard to say is because most people have no idea which species they have, so when we read anecdotal reports, we have no way of knowing for sure what the poster is talking about.

It is safe to say that most of the Goniopora corals that are available in the hobby are difficult to keep in captivity. Most of them seem to go downhill after about 12-18 months, assuming otherwise good care in a mature reef aquarium maintained by an experienced aquarist.

There have been a lot of different hypotheses put forth for why this is so. A lack of appropriate food could very well be the principle factor involved but no one knows for sure.

There are also 12 species in the genus Alveopora. Vendors will often refer to both genera by the same common names: Daisy coral, flowerpot coral, etc. Goniopora have 24 tentacles and Alveopora have 12. Just count the tentacles to figure out which genus they're offering for sale, assuming the picture is in decent focus.

Alveopora is probably easier to maintain in captivity than Goniopora based on comments on the boards. You will also come across reports of people who have Goniopora specimens that they have had for several years but those are the exceptions.

Check out this interesting article on the care of Goniopora.

[weez1959]

Thanks guys!, I'll try to take a pic 2-3 times a week and see what develops...

[weez1959]

Originally Posted by dibenni

I am not sure what it is doing. But I am curious - how long have you had this coral? Other posts on this site suggest that flower pot corals do not survive in captivity. I have had one for about a month and it is doing great - but was upset to see others' opinions on this site after I purchased it. Truthfully - it was the first coral I had bought without first researching it on this site, but my wife was with me and she liked it so I had a moment of weakness.

Hi Nick,
This coral was in my daughter's tank for about 2 months, it was open on and off cuz she only had 130watts on her 50 gallon tank and it's been in mine for a month now and is almost always open.
I wish I had my camera ready the other day, I caught one of my 1" yellow clown gobys goofing aroung between the polyps, it was so cute!
Like everyone says they do well for about a year then decline so who knows what will happen by next year

[dibenni]

louise - as i said i have had mine for about a month now too. so, we'll have to compare notes a year from now. my percular clowns like to goof around in mine too when the polyps are fully extended. at first it would scare the coral and the polyps would retreat, but now it realizes that they mean no harm and it stays open - it is very cool.