Introduction of the Purple Monster, Clam Woes and Happy 2018

The purple monster upon introduction to my tank. 

Happy 2018!  Let's start there.  I'm really looking forward to this year.  2017 was pretty good, so it's going to be hard to top, but I think 2018 will.  I've loaded the listing of shows I'm planning on attending/exhbiting at through June so take a look and come visit me!  Click here for the list.  The first event is less than 60 days away. Oh boy. 

A few days after Christmas, Jeff and I headed to our friend, Scott Crowe's shop, OSACorals.com.  I had given Jeff a gift certificate for Christmas so he could pick out some coral for his new tank. Of course, I had to pick up a couple things too!  Meet the Purple Monster!

The Purple Monster today.  No joke, it's massive.  it's more than 12" in diameter.  I freaking love it.

I am really loving ancanthophyllia coral (meat coral, donut coral, button coral, whatever you want to call it).  I love how they react to feeding and how puffy they get.  I'm hoping to keep expanding my collection.  

My clams are still not doing well.  The two maximas went from thriving and beautiful to doing very poorly in 2 days after I got my new squamosa.  I don't see any pests like pyramid snails or the like but I do think they got pinched mantel.  They had been recovering then the giant hermits i got by mistake a month or two ago knocked them off the rocks and now I'm back with two clams that aren't fully opening and look altogether unhappy.  So frustrating! 

But on to good things!  Bevo! 

Bevo, the friendly neighborhood cowfish 

Jeff took this photo of Bevo the other day with his new camera.  I love it!  You can really see his spots and all the cool patterns on him.  We laugh because you can't look at anything in the tank without Bevo literally in front of your face. He is the most social fish I've had by far.  When I'm working in the tank I have to watch out because he is so curious and is always around my hands and arms.  

Here's a photo I took with my iPhone for comparison in quality.  

Hi Bevo

And of course I need a poodle photo. Here's Iko sitting among the wrapping paper he had fun pulling off the bone he got from Santa. 

Iko on Christmas Morning

That's it for now!  I'll be doing a live painting session tomorrow (Wednesday, 1/3) at 7:30 PM EST on Instagram.  Follow me @reefweeds.  Scott Crowe will be my special guest!  

Comment below!