Flower Petal Polyps Montipora

Details

Genus: Montipora
Montipora sp.
Color: Purple, Green

Coral Care

Feeding: None - Photosynthetic
Lighting: Medium
Flow: Medium
Photo courtesy of: Reeffarmers

Description

This coral has some of the strangest colored polyps that we have seen in a Montipora species. Polyps initially appear to have a two tone blue coloration to the human eye but on closer examination patterns can be observed. When polyps are partially expanded they appear to be colored dark blue with little white blue stripes. When the polyps are fully expanded the polyp has a flower petal appearance that is dark blue with white blue petals. See closeup image below. This is why Reeffarmers calls this coral the Montipora sp. Flower Petal Polyp Coral. The main body is colored blue/purple along its edges. Inside of the blue there is a medium green and at the very center of the thick plating coral they appears to be some yellow green pigments. We have been maintaining this coral under moderate light and it would be interesting to see how the corals pigments develop under strong light. Photo courtesy fo Reeffarmers.