Encrusting Coral ID?

[Kyle Markwardt]

I bought a frag o' xenia about 2 weeks ago and it's really doing well. But I just noticed last night that between some of the xenia stalks and around the fringes of the "rock"(which is fingery), there is some yellow stuff, which I think is actually remaining stony coral.

I can't see any polyps clearly, but there are some tiny uniform bumps on it, I was thinking maybe yellow Porites.

Anyone know?
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[dlhirst]

Look like sponges with these sad eyes...

[MizTanks]

Look like sponges with these sad eyes...

I was thinking sponge also.

[Kyle Markwardt]

It may look that way from the pictures, but this is some SPS for sure. Sponges don't need light right? This things growth line ends exactly where the xenia shades it. I felt it last night. Very hard. Also, the tissue matches the skeleton it's growing on. There are tiny tiny bumps (sorry, can't photograph well) that I assume are either really tiny or retracted polyps - their spacing matches the dead coral skeleton it's growing on. Basically, some of it survived. I am now thinking porites cylindrica.

[Kyle Markwardt]

Third picture shows bumps the best. I'm guessing I won't get a positive ID without at least a better camera. I'd like to know what it is so I can afford it proper care. Unfortunately, it seems the reported optimum conditions for porites and xenia are verrrry different.

[schminksbro]

I would guess porites.

[dlhirst]

You can cut them off the xenia colony, and just start a new frag growing. I have done that with hitchhikers in the past. That way, they can each get their proper lighting requirements. Always fun to find these surprises!

[Kyle Markwardt]

Well, today part of it formed a wax layer. I'm going to try to cultivate this thing.