• Name:

    Alien Heart Acan Echinata

    (View AKA's)
  • Family: Mussidae
  • Species: Acanthastrea
  • Scientific Name: Acanthastrea echinata
More Details

Also Know As:

| Purple Bullseye

| Spiny Honeycomb Coral

| Starry Cup Coral

General info about Alien Heart Acan Echinata

In the wild, Alien Heart Acan Echinata comes in two forms: either encrusting or massive. Their colonies may reach over a meter in length. They have circular corallites with thick walls and septa that have long and pointed teeth. Their skeleton is covered with a thick fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

The color of Alien Heart Acan Echinata is typically mottled dull brown to gray or green. However, they can be brightly colored which can be influenced by environmental factors especially in waters with high nutrient level. This is best exhibited in captive breeding where growers have produced a lavender and bright green variety. One of the favorite breeding varieties is the Orange Crush Acan Echinata, Rainbow Acan Echinata, and Lavender Green Acan Echinata.

This are the ideal range of water parameters for raising Alien Heart Acan Echinata in captivity:

  • Calcium: 400 - 450 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.8 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1200 - 1350
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 76° - 83° F (24° - 28° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

Alien Heart Acan Echinata Diet & Nutrition

In the wild, Alien Heart Acan Echinata has developed a symbiotic feeding relationship with marine algae called zooxanthellae. But in captivity, you have to feed them with nanoplankton or dissolved organics.

Fragging / Propagating Alien Heart Acan Echinata

A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Alien Heart Acan Echinata. Thriving them with fish is recommended as fish excretes nitrogen that can sustain the coral's growth.

Flow / Lighting Requirements for Alien Heart Acan Echinata

Alien Heart Acan Echinata does not need a high flow rate and intense light. Giving them moderate lighting allows the Alien Heart Acan Echinata to spread their polyps thereby allowing them to feed. Too much light will cause the polyps to be retracted.

Alien Heart Acan Echinata Origin

Alien Heart Acan Echinata can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They are widely distributed from East Africa (the Red Sea to Polynesia), Japan, Marshall Islands and the Great Barrier Reef and Solitary Islands of Australia.

Caution Should be Taken with Alien Heart Acan Echinata

Except for their own kind, Alien Heart Acan Echinata is aggressive towards other species. During the night, they extend their tentacles and sting nearby corals. It is recommended to observe proper spacing between corals. Further, they have the tendency to be overpowered with soft corals and will die especially if soft corals outnumbers them.

How to Acclimate Alien Heart Acan Echinata

Alien Heart Acan Echinata are purely marine. So the herefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.

Stinging Tentacles on Alien Heart Acan Echinata

During the night, they extend their tentacles and sting nearby corals.

Relevent Articles

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Alien Heart Acan Echinata Acanthastrea Mussidae Acanthastrea echinata

In the wild, Alien Heart Acan Echinata comes in two forms: either encrusting or massive. Their colonies may reach over a meter in length. They have circular corallites with thick walls and septa that have long and pointed teeth. Their skeleton is covered with a thick fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

The color of Alien Heart Acan Echinata is typically mottled dull brown to gray or green. However, they can be brightly colored which can be influenced by environmental factors especially in waters with high nutrient level. This is best exhibited in captive breeding where growers have produced a lavender and bright green variety. One of the favorite breeding varieties is the Orange Crush Acan Echinata, Rainbow Acan Echinata, and Lavender Green Acan Echinata.

This are the ideal range of water parameters for raising Alien Heart Acan Echinata in captivity:

  • Calcium: 400 - 450 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.8 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1200 - 1350
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 76° - 83° F (24° - 28° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
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