Mycedium elephantotus

(Pallas, 1766)

Plate Coral, Green-eyed Cup Coral, Elephant Nose Coral, Peacock Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Widespread.

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow forereefs to deeper areas where they become more plate-like and often found on or near the edges of overhangs and steep drop-offs and usually seen at depths between 10 to 130 feet (3 - 40 m).

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade.

Some forethought needs to be given to newly received specimens as to their initial lighting requirements. Brightly colored cultured specimens may have been raised in 'very' shallow waters. If not sure of the PAR it was grown under, begin by placing the specimen where it will receive moderate light, e.g., 300 PAR. Move to higher PAR levels only after becoming fully acclimated to initial surrounding conditions.

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 shrimp and mysis.

At night, produces sweeper tentacles, therefore leave enough open distance between it and downstream coral neighbors.

Can form large plate-like or encrusting structures, i.e., two or three meters across, therefore, provide sufficient space for growth.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Pectiniidae

Genus: Mycedium

FYI: In the wild, usually brown, grey, green or pink, but may have green, white, or red oral discs with colonies having distinctively colored margins. Polyps have a round shape that is surrounded by the corallite walls, giving the polyps a bump-like appearance.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Photosynthetic/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

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: 72 - 82°F (22 - 27°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Lighting: PAR 350 - 450+

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

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