• Name:

    Sunset Watermelon 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 Sunset Watermelon Echinata

In the wild, Sunset Watermelon 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 dense, fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

For the Sunset Watermelon Echinata, they are predominatly colored violet red with orange mouth. This are the water parameters for cultivating Sunset Watermelon Echinata:

  • 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

Sunset Watermelon Echinata Diet & Nutrition

In the wild, Sunset Watermelon 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 Sunset Watermelon Echinata

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

Flow / Lighting Requirements for Sunset Watermelon Echinata

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

Sunset Watermelon Echinata Origin

Sunset Watermelon 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 Sunset Watermelon Echinata

Except for their own kind, Sunset Watermelon 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 outnumber them.

How to Acclimate Sunset Watermelon Echinata

Sunset Watermelon Echinata is purely marine. So, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.

Stinging Tentacles on Sunset Watermelon Echinata

During night, Sunset Watermelon Echinata extend their tentacles and sting nearby corals.

Relevent Articles

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Sunset Watermelon Echinata Acanthastrea Mussidae Acanthastrea echinata

In the wild, Sunset Watermelon 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 dense, fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

For the Sunset Watermelon Echinata, they are predominatly colored violet red with orange mouth. This are the water parameters for cultivating Sunset Watermelon Echinata:

  • 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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