Caribbean species wish-list?

[Andyroo]

Folks,
I'm a coral restoration ecologist propagating coral for snorkelling parks, coastal protection/beach improvements, fisheries enhancement etc...
www.seascapecarib.com

Based on recent & ongoing colleague discussions regarding funding of large-scale, long-term Acroporid restorations, I'm looking into in situ nursery propagation of interesting or high-value species for pets-industry export. There's more to the idea, but we'll get into that later.

So my question is:
What Caribbean coral species are you, the sellers and collectors, interested in?
It'll take me a year or 18-months to get a good culture going, so what should I start with?

Thanks for your input,
Andrew

PS: To Moderators, sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

 

[Pazzoman]

Hey can't really name corals of the top of my head from the Caribbean, but if you go to liveaquaria you should try to grow the corals that are always not in stock....if thier in the Caribbean of coarse

 

[Andyroo]

Thanks Pazz. Have had a look, but can't find/figure out the particular "holes" in their stock-lists\. I'll give them a ring tomorrow.
What I can tell you is that the little, less assuming species around here are just as colourful and interesting as what they're selling from the Pacific.
A

 

[jworth]

I would really like to get Millepora Alcicornis, the branching fire coral. Seen lots diving in the keys last month but never see any come in online or shops.

 

[Andyroo]

Fire-coral's a weed! However, for no reason I can figure out it's a little tricky to get vigorous in the nursery. I often fit it into permits to slow snorkeler damage rates on restored shallows though And yes, it is lovely.
After years of dealing with it and it's nasty little relatives I'm a little allergic these days.... Ach well, time to start wearing gloves!
What sort of morph interests you- a really heavily branching one or something a little more open?
A

 

[jworth]

I saw many branching types when I was diving off key west last month. I don't want any of the encrusting type, strictly branching.