2018-02-09 Coral of the week - Pipe Organ Coral

[Mark Shelly]

Pipe organ coral (Tubipora musica) is a pretty unique coral for many reasons. First, the calcareous skeleton of this coral is reddish, one of the few corals with this color. Second, it is composed of tubes which are connected together by bands growing over the surface of the coral at intervals. Third, it is on octacoral like most soft corals, with only 2 types creating hard skeletons, pipe organ coral and the blue-skeleton ridge coral. All other hard skeleton corals are hexacorals. Their tentacles are in multiples of six. It tends to grow in the Indian and west pacific oceans. It can also form pink sands when the fragile skeleton breaks up. This coral has zooxanthellae inside for photosynthesis and is a fairly passive coral. It doesn’t always do well when transferred to a tank. My first attempt was no different.
Here is an example I grew in my tank.

At knight, it would fluoresce green under UV light.

I has a unique skeleton sometimes visible.

Here is a close up of the skeleton.

The can grow pretty large.

Sometimes the polyps look like palm trees.

I wasn't able to find reef videos where I was sure they were showing pipe organ coral.


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tubipora+&&view=detail&mid=99A0F7539627974EB17C99A0F7539627974EB17C&&FORM=VDRVRV

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tubipora+reef&&view=detail&mid=0FBB6EC9BF2C22CDC3DD0FBB6EC9BF2C22CDC3DD&&FORM=VDRVRV

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tubipora+&&view=detail&mid=B2165D09387CC06CE491B2165D09387CC06CE491&&FORM=VDRVRV

 

[raccioppi83]

You should add a 3rd option on the poll for people that have never had one.

 

[Mark Shelly]

You should add a 3rd option on the poll for people that have never had one.

While I was adding options, I must have hit return or something and it posted before I had finished.

 

[raccioppi83]

Gotcha and voted!

 

[myrjon]

Thanks mark!! now here is another coral i want.

 

[Mark Shelly]

Thanks mark!! now here is another coral i want.

You are welcome.