The branching bubble coral, Plerogyra simplex, is a little known species of LPS coral which deserves to have a moment in the spotlight. There are many different types of bubble corals, and several different species, but the branching species has always fascinated…
The wild color change of spawning green chromis
The green Chromis, C. viridis, is such a staple and common aquarium fish, we hardly give a thought to how uniform this species is in the home aquarium, and in the wild. Sure you occasionally get a Chromis atripectoralis mixed…
Reefbuilders Travelogue – Padang Bai and the search for Euphyllia baliensis
Padang Bai Pier is located 40 km (25 miles) east of Denpasar City and is the main ferry terminal for boats leaving Bali to Lombok and Gili Islands. There are a handful of dive sites North of the main ferry dock,…
Mimic anemone discovered immitating boulder porites
The mimic anemone, Phyllodiscus semoni, is the ultimate master of deception on the reef. Not only is this anemone a near-perfect copy of various soft corals, stony corals, and even algae, these anemones will mimic a specific type of coral, down to…
O Christmas Tree Coral, how lovely are thy branches
The Christmas Tree Coral is a very unusual species of Studeriotes soft coral which, due to its superficial resemblance to a christmas tree, used to show up quite more often at the Local Fish Store around the holidays. Since the…
Cherry-picking fresh Acros right from the Coral Farm
Cherry picking corals from an ocean based coral farm is very much like picking ripe fruit from a tree. Otherwise known as mariculture, growing corals in the ocean offers the same advantages and disadvantages as growing of food crops. On one…
Titan Triggers are NOT to be messed with!
Titan triggerfish, Balistoides viridescens, is one helluva fish which patrols shallow reef waters from the Red Sea the Indo-Pacific. A close relative of the clown triggerfish, Titan triggers can grow into quite beautiful fish but there’s a very good reason…
Crop circle of Fungia fralinae found in Menjangan Island, Indonesia
Fungia is a genus of mushroom or disc coral found throughout the Indo Pacific. Fungia fralinae is a particularly recognizable member of this genus which can be found in bright pink, purple, red and yellow, and some color forms are commonly known as wagon wheel fungia. Fungia corals…
Exciting orange elephant ear mushroom sighted in Tulamben
Elephant ear mushroom anemones, Rhodactis mussoides, are curious members of the broad and diverse group of corallimorphs. Ricordea, Discosoma and other Rhodactis shrooms are much more popular for home aquariums but a newly discovered orange morph of this Rhodactis species might finally…
Reef Builders Indonesia Travelogue: Tulamben, Bali
Indonesia is the heart of coral reef diversity and an important source for marine aquarium animals. Reefbuilders is on location in Bali, central Indonesia, and over the next two months we will be saturating ourselves with coral, fish, and reef knowledge to share with all of you.
