Christmas tree coral – Studeriotes Coral
Common species: S. longiramosa and others
Common Names: Christmas tree coral, medusa coral, snake locks coral
Lighting: Medium
Aggressiveness: Peaceful
Current: Moderate to strong
Hardiness: Medium
Color: Brown to gray. Polyps are foten darker than the branches and the base.
Feeding: These corals are aposymbiotic and require feeding. Accept food like live baby shrimp, and other plankton-like food.
Water parameters: 72-78¼F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Propagation: They are not reported to be amenable to captive propagation via cuttings.
Additional information
It is a peaceful coral but will need space between others and itself in the reef aquarium. The additional space is needed to avoid incidental contact of sweeper tentacles and the fact that it will often increase and decrease in size. It will often close up its tentacles at night, resembling a round or oblong potato and unfold its branches during the day resembling a Christmas Tree with drooping branches.
Starvation and poor water flow are the usual cause of decline (they tend to collapse and then fail to reexpand).
These corals are likely to be incorrectly identified as Spharella species.
Placement in the sand, gravel, or rubble at the bottom of the reef aquarium where the light levels are lower and with adequate water parameters should help it to thrive.
Popularity: 4% [?]
