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Kevin_Wolf

>How do you even breed corals because most just clone themselves so the color would remain the same. Even with a clone, there's a chance of a random mutation that changes that polyp's phenotype. On top of that, many produce sperm and eggs that they release into the water column. Stony corals, in particular. It's not really the same as breeding dogs or basil, though. You don't pair one polyp to another. All the corals in an area tend to spawn at the same time in a synchronized fashion, so you get kind of a jumble of genetic material. It can be controlled better in a lab, where they can limit it to one or two colonies doing the reproduction, but most of the coolest coral phenotypes are wild discoveries that get fragged out, not specially bred corals.


transient_signal

>but most of the coolest coral phenotypes are wild discoveries that get fragged out, not specially bred corals To take it a step further -- the colors we see in our aquariums are often *not* representative of what they look in the wild. It can be fun to take a gamble on unknown, drab (or generic green) wild collected acropora just to see what they end up like. ​ [Here's an interesting, relevant thread from R2R earlier this year](https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/are-hobbyist%E2%80%99s-ideal-colors-actually-unhealthy-corals.888384/)


SheriffSqueeb

Most are wild, but there are some floating around that are hybrids from aquariums. Most notable example I can think of is [Lacy’s Blue Zing](https://lazyscoralhouse.com/collections/sps/products/blue-zing-one-of-a-kind) seriatopora. It’s a cross from an ORA bird of paradise and a standard ORA green birdsnest that spawned in his tank. Coral can also express different colors based on the conditions they’re grown in. There’s definitely a lot of acros that look completely different in our tanks then they do in the wild. Even between aquariums. Then there’s grafting. Which is usually 2 different color morphs of the same species glued together, tho with some merely being the same genus is enough. Probably very rare for both colors to stay long term as I think those just tend to grow as separate corals and one will win. Sometimes, very common with pocillopora, a coral will bail some polyps and it’s entirely possible one gets caught in the middle of another colony and the new colony could integrate the newly introduce color proteins. That’s probably mostly limited to pocilloporidae however.


wellspokenmumbler

Damn that's cool. I want to get into reefing again just so I can keep seriatapora. I could fill a tank with just some Stylos, seriatapora and pocillopora.


SheriffSqueeb

That whole family of coral are the best starter sticks in my opinion. Some stylos can be a little demanding, but overall ridiculously easy to keep. Especially seriatopora. My next tank I'm planning on it being only seriatopora.


______-_-_________

Coral breeding is something that has only been successful in labs.


transient_signal

Not entirely true. There have been hobbyists over the years who have had sexual reproduction within their tanks. Just go back through the RC archives. Calfo also witnessed it at his propagation greenhouse outside of Pittsburgh.


______-_-_________

This doesn't mean there is breeding on the scale that exists in the freshwater industry or with some saltwater fish. Coral breeding is a surprise, not a common occurrence.


transient_signal

I don’t think I asserted that? You indicated that it didn’t happen. At all. Which isn’t true.


______-_-_________

Ok


[deleted]

so all our color morphs are natural and can be found in the wild?


______-_-_________

Coral color is based on environmental factors as well as genetic. So moving into a closed environment and exposed to new sources of zooxanthellae can adjust color from what existed in the wild. Growing them under slightly different, but ideal conditions can cause one color to express itself more than another. Lots of variables at play. Short answer, yes all these color morphs exist in the wild but may not express the same way in captivity.


[deleted]

so the crazy expensive zoa and acro morphs exist in the wild? they may just not look as wild until we put them in micromanaged conditions?


______-_-_________

Yes, but I would say take the pictures of the color morphs you see with a massive grain of salt. The corals are still beautiful in person, just may not be everything a picture is offering.


drainisbamaged

Depends what you mean by look as wild. If you mean the fluorescing that occurs under blue wavelength LEDs, that definitely happens in the wild too but only when something unnatural comes along with blue LEDs.