Needle Coral Birdnest Seriatopora
Seriatopora hystrix
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Water parameters
Water parameters are being added.
About Needle Coral Birdnest Seriatopora
General information
In general, Seriatopora corals are arborescent species. Meaning, they grow into a branching formation that comes from a slender base. Their branches are usually thick, short, tapered and fused in to clumps. You have to take note that their tentacles only goes out at night.
For the Needle Coral Birdnest, they are predominatly colored yellow with brown polyps. This are the water parameters for cultivating Needle Coral Birdnest:
- Calcium: 400 – 450 ppm
- Alkalinity: 3.2 – 4.8 MEQ/L (8 – 11 dKh)
- Phosphates: 0
- Magnesium: 1200 – 1350
- Strontium: 10
- Temperature: 74° – 83° F (23° – 28° C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
Diet & nutrition
Majority of the nourishment of the Needle Coral Birdnest comes from the photosynthetic activity of the symbiotic zooxanthellae living within their tissues. On top of this, we recommend you still do supplemental feeding by adding mysis and brine shrimp. They also have the ability to absrob nutrients in the water. So, adding dissolved nutrients is also important.
Determining sex
A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Needle Coral Birdnest. They must be set on the upper portion of the tank.
Breeding & spawning
The Needle Coral Birdnest requires moderate lighting and strong water flow. However, if your specimen is a newly acquired thin branch, DO NOT expose them to strong water flow. Otherwise, they will not adopt to their new environment and will not grow.
Origination
The Needle Coral Birdnest can be found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Their population in the wild is dwindling where they are now considered as a threatened species listed under Appendix II of the CITES list which means that their international trade is monitored.
Cautions
Do not be alarmed if you see crabs thriving within the colony of the Needle Coral Birdnest. They have a symbiotic relationship with small crabs, particularly the gall-forming crab Hapalocarcinus marsupialis.
Acclimation process
Needle Coral Birdnest are purely marine, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.
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