unknown coral

[jaybroreef]

Hi everyone! Hope u made it thru the Holidays! O.K., heres the deal, Ive been reefing for about 12 yrs. now.and I bought a beautiful new coral, which I had never seen the likes of, the owner has never seen them either! Problem is folks, I have no camera at the moment! Im hoping if I descibe them, someone will know. They are all on a rock, about 2in.by 4in. They seem to be individual polyps, no runners or a mat, almost like a zoanthid, but I know its not a zoa. there are probably about 50 of them on this rock, and seem to be very healthy. They have a small stalk, about 1/8 in. tops! They have a beautiful small flower?...this little"flower" has 8 petals which leads me to believe its like a xenia. The color of these are out of this world, its hard to express the blueish purple of this animal!! Is there a small variation of a blue xenia? Sorry I dont have a camera now, I would love for you all to share in the beauty of these creatures!!!! Thank youall, PLEASE help

[Original Fin]

From the description, sounds a lot like clavularia sp...AKA, clove or snowflake polyps. They can be white, beige, pink, blue...the blues are beatiful. Nice grab if that's what it is.

http://www.vividaquariums.com/10Expa...Category=Coral

[jaybroreef]

you know, that was one of my first thoughts, but the petals on the "flower" are totally different, I need to get a picture out there, thank you so much for your time!!!!

[Jessie Nicoletti]

maybe they are a form of duncan coral how many "flowers" are on each stalk i think if it was a xenia some of them would have multible flowers or mouths on a stalk if thier single or solitary it may be a type of sand polyp or are they more similar to yellow polyps they almost look like tiny anenomes. can you describe the heads a little better are the petals wide like a feather or whiskery like a shrimps antenna.

[jaybroreef]

Are you familiar with the purple snowflake coral? If not they have a picture of them on saltwater.com.This coral is very familiar with the snowflae in the way it grows. the"snowflake part of it does not look anything like a snowflake,it looks by all accounts like an 8 petal purple daisy shaped flower,and it isfrom1/8 in. to maybe1/4in. around, they seem to grow individually, but like I said, there are probably 40-50 individual animals on that one small2 by 4in. rock! My lfs, whom Im very close to, doesnt know what to call them. Im SO sorry I have no camera at this time, ill keep working onthat, I know you guys will knock it off quick if I had a picture, Thanks again!!!

[jaybroreef]

Thanks all who helped, it is a purple snowflake, I was able to magnify withan old lense, and I could see the very fine snowflake on the end of the stem...very beautiful coral, and so far, it seems easy to care for. Check one out!!