Limited Edition Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps
Retired December 2008 !
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Colony Photo by Tracy Gray
In March 2004 Steve Tyree was looking through some exotic Tonga Stony
corals at Jeffs Exotic Fish located near Los Angeles California. One coral that
was picked up was originally thought to be a purple colored Astreopora
species. The growth form of the coral was massive with laminar plates
along the outer edges. After placing the coral within a reeffarmers.com
system, Steve was surprised to discover that when the corallites polyps
were extended they were bright white colored. Additional observations
of the coral, while examining the 3 volume Corals of the World Books,
determined that this coral was not an Astreopora species. The coral
was actually a Turbinaria species and probably a T. stellulata species.
In captivity the purple coloration has been developing more intensely.
So what was originally thought to be a purple colored Astreopora coral turned
out to a Purple Turbinaria with bright white polyps. This was the first
Turbinaria that Steve has personally seen in the captive reef market with
white colored polyps. The polyps are naturally extended out very far during
the night. Initially during the day polyps have been retracted, but have been
slowly extending out farther during the day photoperiod. Its possibly that
once the coral has adapted to captive life with no polyp eating reef fish,
these bright white polyps may extend completely even during the day.
Steve Tyree is maintaining this coral for reeffarmers.com in his 225 gallon
naturally filtered Quad-Zonal EG Reef Aquarium. In Steve's captive reef the
coral is positoned 20 inches below a 400 watt 20,000 K XM Metal Halide.
The purple coloration has been slowly intensifying the first 6 weeks the
coral has been in captivity. Water current is moderate. Please note this coral
was retired on December 2008 due to the loss of the seed.
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Closeup Photo by Chris McChesney
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Year 2007 Bimonthly Limited Edition Schedule
January
Cancelled
March
Cancelled
May
Cancelled
July
Cancelled
September
Cancelled
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Year 2004 Monthly Limited Edition Schedule
June
Shipped to A. D.
July
Shipped to S. Wilson
August
Shipped to S. Merrill
September
Shipped to C. Pasko
October
Cancelled
November
Cancelled
December
Cancelled
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Year 2005 Monthly Limited Edition Schedule
January
Shipped to Sue R.
February
Shipped to C. Owens
March
Cancelled
April
Shipped to Oliver A.
May
Cancelled
June
Cancelled
July
Shipped to L. Lau
August
Cancelled
September
Delivered to Roy A.
November
Shipped to C. Conway
Turbinaria stellulata Purple with White Polyps Year 2006 Bimonthly Limited Edition Schedule
TM
