In this article Eric elaborates on the continuation of his study on elegance corals and the disease that has recently affected them in the aquarium trade.

More... (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/eb/index.php)

Wow! This is a long read, but well worth the time. My hat's off to Mr.Borenman for finally putting this in writing. Anyone even remotely thinking about buying an Elegance coral should read this article. While I may not agree with all of his theories, we do agree on the plight of this incredible coral. The collection of Elegance corals from Indonesia should stop. The hobbyist should be made aware of the staggering decline of wild populations in this area, and the dismal survival rate of these corals in captivity. This goes far beyond a "hard to keep coral". We should not keep buying corals that are all but doomed when removed from the ocean. Especially when there is an alternative. Australian Elegance corals do not suffer from the same condition, and their collection is closely monitored. If you want your Elegance to survive, make sure it was imported from Australia.

i thought that you would like that article !! i thought it was a great read too.

That really was a great read. I'd love to have an elegance, but have been afraid to get one. How does one determine if a specimen is of Ausie origin?

Unfortunately, we are forced to trust in the retailer that is selling the coral. There is no way to be 100% positive of where an Elegance came from. There are clues that may help though. Its overall health is one indication. It should have long round tentacles that appear to be pumped full of water. Most of the Aussie Elegance corals are fraggs of much larger meandering skeletal structured corals. In fact, I have been looking for a typical solitary cone shaped Elegance from Australia and can not find one. The oral disk of these meandering skeletal Elegance corals typically have green fluorescent lines radiating out from the mouths like spokes in a wheel. The tentacles are usually void of green pigments. There are several people that are now buying large Aussie Elegance corals and fragging them to be sold..

i believe that this one is an Aussie elegance ...

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/lReef_lKeeper/elegance.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/lReef_lKeeper/elegance-1.jpg

Is that yours Bobby? It looks GREAT!

yeah, that is the same one i have had for over a year now. and it just seems to keep on growing. i would say that it is about the size of a volleyball when fully opened.

Hi elegancecoral and :welcome: to TR.

Bobby, beautiful coral!