Turbinaria heronensis

Wells, 1958

Branching Pagoda Coral, Spiny Turbinaria Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow reefs where it forms large plating-type growths and is usually quite uncommon in all areas found, where it is seen at depths between 15 to 50 feet (5 - 15 m).

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade.

Maricultured specimens available.

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.

See Turbinaria frondens for suggested aquarium husbandry.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Dendrophylliidae

Genus: Turbinaria

FYI: In the wild, usually pale brown, yellow or green with long tubular corallites.