Montipora

Looks how to spot one

Small-polyp stony coral (SPS) in plating, encrusting or branching forms

A very variable coral that can grow as flat plates, spreading crusts, fingers or small mounds, sometimes several forms on one colony. Its polyps are tiny and sit in a porous skeleton, giving the surface a fine, velvety texture.12

Personality what they are like

A peaceful, steady grower. Plating types such as Montipora capricornis are known to cope with less-than-perfect conditions better than Acropora, which makes them a popular step into stony corals.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Sessile; small-polyp stony corals do best in brisk, turbulent water movement, and the polyps come out mainly at night to feed.42

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep chemistry steady and top up calcium and alkalinity as the coral grows; reef guidance is about 400-450 ppm calcium, 7-12 dKH alkalinity, pH 8.2-8.6, low nitrate and phosphate.42

Home where they are happiest

A stable reef aquarium at about 24-27 C (75-80 F) with strong lighting and good flow; plating forms are usually given room to spread outward.24

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Relies largely on symbiotic algae in its tissue for energy, and its polyps also catch plankton after dark.23

Company who they like around

A colonial coral; it needs no tankmates, and is commonly kept with other small-polyp stony corals.14

The story where it all began

Blainville named the genus in 1830, and it sits in the same family as Acropora, with Anacropora as its closest relative. Plating and branching Montipora became mainstays of reef aquariums because they are widely available and comparatively forgiving.12

Recognised by the official bits

Taxonomy (Blainville)

Genus named by Blainville in 1830, family Acroporidae; about 85 species, the second largest coral genus after Acropora.1

CITES

Montipora digitata is listed on CITES Appendix II.3