Echinopora horrida

Dana, 1846

Hedgehog Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, Eastern Africa, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Samoa, New Caledonia and Australia.

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow protected reef slopes and lagoons and generally seen at depths between 10 to 100 feet (3 - 30 m).

General Husbandry: Rarely seen in the trade.

As to placement in the aquarium, mid level areas receiving moderate light and somewhat swift water movement is the best initial area. Movement to higher PAR levels only after becoming fully acclimated to initial surrounding conditions is then recommended if brightly colored.

Furthermore, maricultured specimens are available and if brightly colored, ask under what PAR conditions it was grown in so you may continue to see it maintain its health/colors! If unknown, proceed as described above.

Capable of producing its nutritional needs via photosynthesis, yet benefits from once or twice a week feedings of various plankton-like foods, such as Oyster eggs, cyclops, baby brine shrimp, Spirulina, enriched adult brine and mysis shrimp.

Even though its feeding tentacles are usually only displayed at night, it will sometimes display them during daylight hours if it senses food entering the aquarium. I have often used a freeze-dried krill squished between my fingertips in the aquarium water to bring forth its feeding tentacles.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Faviidae

Genus: Echinopora

FYI: In the wild, forms somewhat flat bases with short upward contorted branches and usually dark brown, cream or green.

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Photosynthetic/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 73 - 81°F (23 - 27°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Lighting: PAR 350 - 450+

Water Movement: WM 2 - 3

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.