Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)
Names
Scientific name
Seriatopora hystrix
Common name
Needle Coral
Thin Birdsnest Coral
Birdnest Coral
Prickly seriatop
Origin
Origin: Indo-Pacific and Red Sea
Kind
Kind: Hard coral with small polyps (SPS)
Form: forms hemispherical ramifications, going from brown to pale green to pink
Group
Pocilloporidae
Volume
200 L / 44 imp gal / 53 US gal
Parameters
T°: 24 to 26°C or 75 to 79°F
pH: 8 to 8.5
Density: 1024 to 1026
Difficulty
Easy
Size
20 to 30cm (8 to 12")
Brewing
Average
Lighting
Strong
Aggressiveness
Low
Food
How to feed the Needle Coral?
Food
How to feed the Needle Coral?
This coral contains zooxanthellae (microscopic algae that grow under the light) on which it feeds. This is its main source of food. You can supplement from time to time with microplankton.
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Needle Coral?
Cohabitation
Who can live with the Needle Coral?
No particular restrictions to report.
Breeding
How to breed the Needle Coral?
Breeding
How to breed the Needle Coral?
The skeleton sometimes produces ramifications. All you have to do is separate them gently to start a new colony. This cutting is very easy to do and has a good chance of producing conclusive results: perfect for first experiments in the multiplication of hard corals!
If it likes its aquarium, the Hystrix grows quickly (several centimeters per year).
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Needle Coral?
Its aquarium
Which aquarium for the Needle Coral?
This coral appreciates a good brightness and a medium mixing. For this, you can place it in the middle part of your aquarium (be careful in the upper part, the coral may end up in the open air during water changes, see next paragraph).
When you change the water in your aquarium for routine maintenance, make sure that your coral does not come out of the water because hystrix cannot stand to be emerged, even for a few minutes. This can seriously damage them.
The morphology of the Hystrix can vary according to the mixing conditions: the stronger the current, the shorter and thicker its branches. On the contrary, with a weak current, the coral carries longer and finer branches.
Did you know that this coral (for the pink variety) was a very good indicator of the quality of your water? If it exposes a beautiful deep pink, it means that the water is poor in nutrients. On the other hand, if it tugs at the brown, the water is rather loaded with nutrients.
Good To know
Find all additional information!
Good To know
Find all additional information!
Robust and easy to maintain, this coral is part of the list of potential candidates for beginners in marine aquariums. However, its sensitivity to algae that easily invade it should be noted.
Be careful because its ramifications are very fine and fragile.
The colors offered by this coral are multiple: yellow, brown, greenish, pink (the most sought-after in aquariums) and even blue (extremely rare)!
Yours photos!
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