Acanthastrea Pachyspeta (The Lobo Killer)
- Dec 24, 2023
- Anshika Mishra
- 117 0 0
When it comes to the identification of corals as the correct genus species, we put in a tiny bit of effort. However, there are situations where getting the name right has some real-world practical impact. In this case, it's a killer that hides in plain sight. Let's talk about the genus Acanthastrea.
Since Acanthastrea was first introduced to the hobby, its ranks have slowly dwindled over the years as a result of reclassifications. These changes are good because they do make sense. Lords have a lot of similarities with, same with the Bowerbankies. They are more similar to hemophilia Australis, which, in their own right, used to be the flagship of its previous genus.
The reclassification helped a bit as far as care goes. There are still some subtle differences and troubleshooting tips. These corals are not as easy as most LPS. They fall prey to specific microscopic bugs and different types of infections. Their coloration can shift significantly based on the lighting they receive and their nutrition.
These are issues that are not shared by Bowbankies, for example. Now that they are no longer a member of the genus, it seems like the only species in the hobby that stuck around is Acanthastrea Echinata, which, in retrospect, is super different from all the other previous Acans. It's much flatter in appearance and doesn't have as much separation between the polyps.
Most importantly, though, this coral is top-toer aggressive. This is a coral you don't want next to any other coral. It is going to fight and will win. Acan is a killer. Up to this point, everything seems very simple as far as the reclassification is concerned. Many corals have made it out of the genus into ones that made more sense. But then, there is a new edition - Acanthastrea Pachyspeta.
Acanthastrea Pachyspeta
The practical effect of this reclassification is massive because, like the other, this coral is a killer. It wants to fight and is good at it. These corals do not send out sweeper tentacles but utilize their filaments to engulf neighboring corals.
In particular, they like to kill Lohophillia. That's why it got the nickname the Lobo Killer. This can be an issue for the hobbyists. You have to watch out for these corals. They can not be placed near each other.
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