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June, Week1
MONTIPORA CAPRICORNUS
Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Montipora
Abundance: Occasionally Common
Distribution: Australia, Indonesia, Micronesia, Philippines
Habitat: Predominantly in lagoons
Ease of care (out of 5): 4
(1 Hardest, 5 Easiest)
Hobby Availability (out of 5):4
(1 Least, 5 Most)
Growth Formation: cupping, plating
Growth Speed: moderate to fast
(under ideal conditions)
Light: low to high
Flow: random, turbulent to still
Fish Incompatibility: certain Angels, Butterfly (Raccoon, Saddleback, more to list)
Known Pests/Diseases: Montipora eating nudibranchs
Montipora capricornus is a ‘finishing touch’ coral for your tank. It adds instant warmth and definition. Because of its plating and cupping growth, it fulfills the void left by other corals. It has very irregular laminae (plate) formation, and its coralites are randomly scattered. It also serves, many times in the wild, as a shelter or a breeding sanctuary. In home aquariums, fish use it to rest or sleep (under or in the cup).
Fish compatibility is very good. The usual suspects are angels and butterflies, which prey on polyps of the coral (with obvious exceptions, Copperband, Longnose, or Heniouchus). So you need not to worry about your fish having a good meal.
Some reefers use this coral to accent their tanks in such a way to mesmerize their guests. These corals can be placed close together to form such amazing displays in artistic beauty. Some of these corals are found to have contrasting colors between their polyps and calcium bodies. Certain of these M. caps have their outer edges thick in lust color, and because of that, are most sought after.
There is slight maintenance involved with this coral. Detritus is known to settle inside the coral’s cup. I usually use a turkey baster to blow off any detritus from the cup. Over time, a thick sediment of detritus will form and will kill of that part of the coral (no light penetration). So a little bit of TLC will go a long way.
Here are some amazing pictures of this species:
Here are some sought after M. capricornus:
Stay tuned next week, as we will look at another HOT coral…. Blastomussa wellsi, or commonly called Blasto.
(Want your picture featured next time? Submit it to fragd.it here!)
Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero!