ORA Pink Polyp Capricornis Coral

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Pink Polyp Cap Montipora; Pink Polyp Plating Montipora

Synonyms

Montipora tuberculosa

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat

Shallow reef flats, slopes, and lagoons with moderate to strong water movement and bright light

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Coral type

SPS

Temperament

Peaceful

Growth form

Plating

Adult size

1 – 12 in (2.5 – 30 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Low, Middle

Water

Temperature

76 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.024 – 1.026 SG

PAR

150 – 250 PAR

Flow

Moderate-High

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Green, Blue, Pink, Orange, Red, Purple, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Coral food, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

A green base contrasts with dark pink polyps across each thin, overlapping plate as the colony spreads outward. Growth is quick under medium-intensity lighting, and a keeper should site fragments low with room to expand, since the flattened form is prone to shading slower corals positioned beneath it.

Care

This species forms thin, overlapping plates or shelves that expand outward over the rockwork, adding a horizontal element that contrasts with branching SPS. It tolerates a fairly wide light range but colors and growth are most consistent under medium intensity, roughly 150 to 250 PAR, with moderate to strong flow to keep detritus from settling on the flattened surfaces. New frags should be introduced to lower, shadier spots and moved upward gradually, since sudden jumps in light intensity often bleach the growing edge before the rest of the colony pales.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate new frags slowly, starting in a low to middle position under reduced light for one to two weeks before stepping up intensity, since this species is prone to bleaching from sudden light increases. Mount plugs by wedging between rocks, gluing with epoxy, or inserting into a drilled socket, leaving space around the frag for the plate to expand outward without contacting neighboring corals.

Feeding

Most of its nutrition comes from zooxanthellae under aquarium lighting, but it also captures fine particulates and zooplankton with its polyps at night. Occasional target feeding with small-particle coral foods or phytoplankton can boost growth rate and coloration, especially in nutrient-poor systems. Stable, moderate nitrate and phosphate levels support tissue health better than starvation conditions.

Neighbors

Give this coral generous clearance from neighboring corals since its plates spread quickly and can overgrow or shade slower-growing species beneath it. It lacks strong sweeper tentacles but should still be kept apart from aggressive stinging corals such as torches or hammers that can reach over and damage its tissue. Placement low in the aquascape works well as long as nothing light-demanding is positioned directly underneath.

Fragging

Fragging is done by cutting or snapping off sections of the plate margin with bone cutters or a saw, then mounting the pieces on plugs or rubble with cyanoacrylate gel. Cut edges typically heal and begin encrusting within one to two weeks under stable, moderate lighting.

Pests & problems

Montipora-eating nudibranchs and flatworms are among the most persistent pests, often going unnoticed until a colony shows patchy tissue loss or a receding edge. Rapid loss of color to solid brown usually signals insufficient light, while a spreading white or bleached margin points to a light or flow change that was too abrupt. Dipping new frags before introduction and inspecting the underside of plates regularly help catch problems early.

Sources

1. ORA Blue Polyp Capricornis Coral - Bulk Reef Supply
2. ORA Blue Polyp Capricornis | AlgaeBarn
3. Montipora Care: Light, Placement, Pests and Color | TUG
4. Oceans Garden Aquaculture ORA Blue Polyp Capricornis Montipora Coral

Varieties in the catalog

ECC Red Cap MontiporaORA Blue Polyp Capricornis Coral

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