Scott Fellman

I’m a bit, well- confused…In the reef aquarium hobby and trade, we tend have our own ways of naming things. In fact, “common” names and scientific names get interchanged, mixed up, whipped to a froth, beaten to a pulp, twisted, and otherwise whacked out. Madness ensues…

Case in point- a recent discussion I saw between hobbyists, discussing the identity of a soft coral. It went something like, “That’s a Blue Xenia!” Another hobbyist chimed in, “Nah, it’s a Cespitularia!” Still another chimed in and indicated that it was, indeed, Efflatounaria. Okay, identity crisis aside…I was confused. I thought the common name for Cespitularia IS “Blue Xenia”! More bizarre: People call the stony coral Acorpora eflorescens” the “Efflo”. I say that a coral of the genus “Efflatounaria” would definitely be better qualified to be called an “Efflo”, right? Or is that an “Effla?” Ah, maybe. Yup. Hmm…

On the other hand, I love it when we call an Acropora solitariensis a “Soli”. Do we call an Acropora sarmentosa a “Sarmi”? Nah. Doubtful. What’s a “BLUE Slimer”? It’s the same as a “Green Slimer”, only blue, right? And what if your “Blue Xenia” looks more teal than blue? Well, teal is a shade of blue, right? Is a “True Echinata” blue? That’s an “Acro”, right? Is there a “False Echinata”? And is the damn thing even blue? I wonder if a “Fire and Ice Monti” has the same coloration as a “Fire and Ice” Zoanthid? I do think that I would prefer a “Pink Lemonade” Birdsnest over just a “regular” Pink one. Even over a “Pink Lemonade Nasuta”. I think.

On the other hand, the “Hawkins Acro” must be better than the “Red Planet Acro”, right? I mean, it’s named after some guy! But what about the “Undata”? Oh, I mean the “true” Undata, as opposed to the “fake” one, right? THAT is a good buy, in my opinion. And there is no arguing that a frag of “Miami Hurricane” Echinophyllia is definitely better than a hurricane headed towards Miami.

I’ll never own a “War Coral”…I mean, I’m a lover, not a fighter. With a name like that, it must be extremely aggressive, right? Maybe if I bring in a “Superman” (“Danae” or “Monti”?), it will counteract the “War Coral”…unless some “Kryptonite Zoos” are present. But if a “Meteor Shower” Cyphastrea arrives, you’d probably be better off if you had a “Lucky Charm” Cyphastrea to protect you!

Thankfully, the “Watermelon Chalice” is apparently not all that tasty, or wouldn’t be - compared to a “Strawberry Shortcake” Acropora- at least not to a “True Percula” Clownfish…

Hmm…Would a “True Percula Clownfish” snack on a “True Echinata”? Possibly. Maybe a “False Percula” might nibble on a “True Echinata”. Then what?

I think I’d have trouble wrapping my Brain (a Favia or Trachyphllyia?) around deciding which is better- an Acropora speciosa or a Favia speciosa?

The mind boggles. I’m done here for now. Gotta pack for MACNA.

Until next time.

Stay Wet

Scott Fellman
facebook.com/scott.fellman