FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

ReefBook is an information platform for exploring corals (a catalog), recording your own specimens (collection records), and preserving provenance (the lineage from a mother colony to its frags). There is no marketplace. It centers on the catalog and member record features (in preparation).

The catalog currently covers major species and genera including SPS, LPS, soft corals, anemones, and giant clams. Browse from /corals along two axes: taxa (scientific classification) and lineages (trade lineages). Entries are added and revised over time.

Taxa are biological classifications based on scientific names (genus/species). Lineages are Named Lineages — specific strains known by trade names, tracing which mother colony a frag descends from. Same scientific name, different origin means a separate lineage.

Scientific names and classification reference public taxonomic databases; care notes summarize widely shared hobbyist knowledge; trade names follow field usage. The catalog does not assert lineage from photos alone and distinguishes information by confidence. Corrections are welcome via the contact page.

Each page shows the scientific name (italicized genus/species) separately from trade names and nicknames. Because trade names can vary by shop or community, we anchor on the scientific name while also listing common names.

Account registration is currently in preparation. Member features (registering specimens, growth records, creating frags, publishing collections) are still in development, and public sign-up is not yet open. We plan to announce availability via the announcements page.

Planned features include registering the coral specimens you keep, logging growth and tank events, recording lineage when you cut frags from a mother colony, and publishing your collection for others to see. All are in preparation.

Specimen and collection records are expected to have a visibility setting: 'private' (only you), 'unlisted' (anyone with the link), and 'public' (anyone can view and reach it from the catalog). The default is expected to be private.

No. Unless you set visibility to 'public', your records stay hidden from others. Private is the intended default, and publishing is your choice.

ReefBook treats the assertion that a frag descends from a particular mother colony or lineage as a 'claim', and separately shows how well that claim is supported as its 'verification status'. The design principle is to not assert lineage from photos alone, but to distinguish a claim from the evidence backing it.

Corals can look alike yet have different origins, and photos alone can't reliably confirm identity. Because false assertions erode trust, provenance is handled as a claim plus its verification status, with confidence made explicit.

Rights to photos of specimens that members record and publish generally belong to the photographer or poster. You may not repost others' photos without permission. If you find an image that infringes someone's rights, please use the report or contact features.

Please let us know via the contact page. Details on scientific names, classification, or provenance — with your reasoning — are appreciated. We will review and consider corrections.

Yes. Stony corals (order Scleractinia) are listed in their entirety on CITES Appendix II, so import/export requires permits and procedures. See the regulations page for details. This site's notes are not legal advice — always confirm the latest via customs, METI, and the Ministry of the Environment.

Yes. If you find rights infringement or inappropriate content in the catalog, records, or provenance claims, use the report feature on the relevant page or the contact page. We review and act on reports.

Yes. It works on smartphones, tablets, and desktops, and supports Japanese and English via the language toggle at the top of the page.

Please see the legal information (Tokushoho) page for details about the operator.