Confused Seller

[minimalist]

http://cgi.ebay.com/GLOWING-EMERALD-...QQcmdZViewItem

I sent him a message letting him know it was a Blastomussa.

[GreshamH]

Sure looks like ric babies to me.

Especially in this pic:

[minimalist]

I'm 100% positive that's a Blastomussa.

[hooterhead]

yep. itsa blasto

[gina6one9]

Originally posted by minimalist
I'm 100% positive that's a Blastomussa.

i second that!

[GreshamH]

100% positive? No true ID can be made with out a skeleton shot, that's 100% for sure You can guess and say your guess is good as you can give, but you can not ID a coral from a picture that is 100% flesh. Email Veron, he'll say the same thing

[minimalist]

Seller just got back to me and informed me that he posted the wrong picture by mistake.

Originally posted by GreshamH
100% positive? No true ID can be made with out a skeleton shot, that's 100% for sure You can guess and say your guess is good as you can give, but you can not ID a coral from a picture that is 100% flesh. Email Veron, he'll say the same thing

I'm 100% positive.

[minimalist]

"...you can not ID a coral from a picture that is 100% flesh."

Not all corals even have skeletons. Just admit that you were wrong.

[GreshamH]

I'm wrong on that pic , but I'm am totally correct on you can not ID a stony coral by flesh alone, of which a Blasto is (stony coral). In this case, if the seller would have posted a pic of the skeleton, you could give a good guess on it. IF no skeleton was seen, then it would not have been a blasto. Having imported thousands of both for nearly a decade, I can say they do look very similiar when they are very small like that. Those blastos are a little larger 1/4" in diameter if that is 1/2" eggcrate.

[GreshamH]

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/...0pages/107.htm

Characters: Colonies are phaceloid to plocoid, and consist of a few to large numbers of corallites. Corallites are less than 7 millimetres diameter. Septa are mostly in two cycles of which only the first reaches the columella. Septa have slightly serrated margins. Primary septa may be exsert. Columellae are poorly developed. Mantles, but not tentacles, are extended during the day and may form a continuous surface obscuring the underlying growth-form. Colour: Commonly dark red with conspicuous green oral discs. May also be pink, orange, brown or uniform dark grey with white margins to primary septa. Similar species: Blastomussa wellsi, which has much larger corallites with more numerous septa. See also the faviid Parasimplastrea sheppardi, which is cerioid and has extensive ‘groove and tubercle’ formations. Habitat: Reef environments, especially where the water is turbid. Abundance: Uncommon.

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/...0pages/108.htm

Characters: Colonies are phaceloid, rarely subplocoid. Corallites are 9-14 millimetres diameter. Septa are not arranged in cycles and are numerous. They have small blunt teeth. Mantles, but not tentacles, are extended during the day and may form a continuous surface obscuring the underlying growth-form. Colour: Mantles are usually dark grey, but may be red or green. Oral discs are usually green but may be red or dark grey. Similar species: Blastomussa merleti. See also the euphyllid Nemenzophyllia turbida and the faviid Montastrea multipunctata, both of which have fleshy mantles. Habitat: Lower reef slopes protected from wave action, and turbid environments. Abundance: Uncommon, rare in the Red Sea.

Neither ID's tell you much about the flesh, other then some common colors and some simple facts about the mantle.

All ID points provided by them are for skeleton ID's

[Mr31415]

Of course one can be 100% sure about something. Though that still does not mean you are correct...

[RichConley]

Originally posted by GreshamH
Sure looks like ric babies to me.

Especially in this pic:

Doestn look ANYTHING like a Ric.


Its a blasto.

[GreshamH]

We've all ready gotten that point Rich I do have to disagree though. At a 1/4", ric's ca look very similiar.

[minimalist]

You're a sponsor? Might I ask which one?