Prof. Michael Schleyer, Südafrika
Info
Many thanks to Prof. Michael Schleyer, who gave us many photos of corals for the marine encyclopedia.
Kenia trees (Capnella) are soft corals (Alcyonacea). They grow branched like a tree. By the way, they got their name because they were exported from the East African coast.
The corals grow back to a good size very quickly. What we noticed, however, is that they should not be placed so close to leather corals, because these then show nettle marks [Capnella nettles leather coral].
Capella corals are usually quite undemanding corals that reproduce well by themselves. However, you can help it along and cut off a piece of the animal. The more light and solutes in the water, the higher the reproduction rate.
(Note on other species) Capnella treelets reproduce by themselves in our area . Every few weeks an arm pumps itself up and then separates itself from the coral by letting itself be carried along by the current. The separated arm is fixed by us on a stone. This can be done quite well with a wooden toothpick.
Original description:
Light, S.F. (1913). Notes on Philippine Alcyonaria, Part I: The Philippine species of the genus Capnella. Philippine Journal of Science. 8D(6): 435-453, pls. 1-3., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34798165
More Corals under the Site from Mike Schleyer - Corals of Mayotte
http://saambr.org.za.dedi721.jnb2.host-h.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mike-Schleyer-Corals-of-Mayotte.pdf
Kenia trees (Capnella) are soft corals (Alcyonacea). They grow branched like a tree. By the way, they got their name because they were exported from the East African coast.
The corals grow back to a good size very quickly. What we noticed, however, is that they should not be placed so close to leather corals, because these then show nettle marks [Capnella nettles leather coral].
Capella corals are usually quite undemanding corals that reproduce well by themselves. However, you can help it along and cut off a piece of the animal. The more light and solutes in the water, the higher the reproduction rate.
(Note on other species) Capnella treelets reproduce by themselves in our area . Every few weeks an arm pumps itself up and then separates itself from the coral by letting itself be carried along by the current. The separated arm is fixed by us on a stone. This can be done quite well with a wooden toothpick.
Original description:
Light, S.F. (1913). Notes on Philippine Alcyonaria, Part I: The Philippine species of the genus Capnella. Philippine Journal of Science. 8D(6): 435-453, pls. 1-3., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34798165
More Corals under the Site from Mike Schleyer - Corals of Mayotte
http://saambr.org.za.dedi721.jnb2.host-h.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mike-Schleyer-Corals-of-Mayotte.pdf
