Montipora capricornis
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Red Montipora capricornis. Vivid Aquariums.
[edit] Overview
This is a great stony coral for both beginners and reef experts. It grows rapidly in good conditions, forming beautiful whorling colonies in various color forms: red, orange, green, and others.
Family: Acroporidae
Other common name(s):
- Leaf Plate Montipora
Native range:
Habitat: Often found in lagoons. In the aquarium, colonies often do best when placed in the top half of the tank to maximize exposure to light. Be sure that there is sufficient current to prevent detritus or sand from gathering on the surface of the colony. (Weekly flushings with a handheld powerhead pump may be needed to clean the inner crevices.)
Minimum aquarium size: 380 L (100 gal)
Lighting: Bright.
Placement: Top half of tank.
Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Excellent reef aquarium species, non-aggressive.
[edit] Special Care
Plates are VERY fragile and often break during transit or handling. All broken pieces, however, immediately become candidates for propagation and will grow into new colonies if affixed, right side up, to hard substrate.
[edit] Breeding/Propagation
Easily reproduced from fragments
[edit] Notes
Identification of the "leaf-like" Montipora species is a challenge for most aquarists. Several similar species exist, including Montipora florida, from the Tropical Western Atlantic and Caribbean.
| Common name | Montipora capricornis +, and Leaf Plate Montipora + |
| Family | Acroporidae + |
| Genus | Montipora + |
| Image credit | VA + |
| Lighting | Bright. + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 100 gal + |
| Native range | Western Pacific + |
| Placement | Top half of tank. + |
| Reference | The 101 Best Marine Invertebrates + |
| Specific name | capricornis + |
| Text credit | SWM + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |