Loading ...Lets get something out of the way instantaneously… this post is not in any means hypocritical. Let me explain.
A few months ago, maybe a year ago, we have done a few articles on the coral name game and its ridiculous marketing. In fact, I was on record to say that I am fully against it, as it serves a single purpose: to yield more money to those selling them.
So this brings me to today’s post, having a coral in your name. A while ago, I have submitted one of my dear and prized corals to CoralPedia as they were taking submissions. I thought to myself, if I were to name any coral, it would be this only one. I could have easily gone the Tyree route, or the business route and called it a FI Blue Smacker. But its not about the money. Its a little bit about notoriety. Not humble you say? Here is a little history behind this coral.
First off, I know its origins. It came on a shipment from Marshall Island in 2005. For those who don’t know, Marshall Island shipments almost always come in browned out. Prior to roughly 2006, MI shipments were also quite big in coral size. Current shipments, a few that do come in, are frag-like in size. Secondly, 85%-90% of reefers don’t buy brown corals. This is believed to be due the risk involved of not knowing how its going to ‘color up’. Sometimes people take a chance on a coral that is brown, and can have amazing success with it. Some cannot, and don’t buy. Thirdly, the coral in question was left for the dead. It was sitting in the loonie bin at the LFS. My curiosity was tickled, and so I took it home.
Being at home, it began to transform. It soon grew shades of deep blue. And then purple. And then a dash of pink. Without a question, it was the stud coral. The Bentley of my corals. The coral that every single person who ever saw my tank wanted, and many who were refused. A such coral would be disrespected if they were given to someone to live in a nano. Or a 2 month old 400 gallon. A coral that only seasoned reefers would attain.
So here I am, owning this showpiece. Only a handful of people have had its frags. I continue to have hope to this day that those frags are nice colonies by now. But unfortunately, I fear that most have perished. It is a very demanding coral. It requires a ton of light, and flow. It is very sensitive to water quality. A double edged sword. So why not categorize it with the people on CoralPedia? Who knows if anyone will ever see this coral again. Who knows if anyone has a fragment left? I have had this coral perish from me as well, only to find its double with a friend of mine. Now I own only two small fragments of this gem. So why not?!
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So is naming it Vlad’s Marshall Island A. tenuis hypocritical? Say it ain’t so!
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Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero! 
Great post and loved the story behind your coral.
…last year I saw a very odd acro in a LA LFS and proceeded to purchase it for my friends tank. It’s still growing, although very slowly and still nobody has been able to ID it – it has been dubbed the Curvball Acro, nothing more.
…I’m hoping to one day actually get this coral for myself, but trade restrictions makes shipping frags internationally a little tough.
and yes, buying brown frags is one of the most fun parts of keeping SPS – you never know what colour it will go or if it even will colour up! What ever happened to the mystery in this hobby?