ORA Space Invader Pectinia Coral

Quick facts

Handling caution: Can sting neighboring corals with sweeper tentacles; wear gloves to avoid skin irritation from nematocysts

Identity

Also known as

Antler coral; Leaf coral

Synonyms

Pectinia lactuca (misapplied in trade)

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Western Central Pacific

Habitat

Lower reef slopes and turbid, muddy or rubble bottoms, typically on horizontal or gently sloped surfaces in deeper, low-light water

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Growth form

Plating

Adult size

1.5 – 8 in (3.8 – 20 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Sand bed, Low

Water

Temperature

76 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.025 – 1.026 SG

PAR

50 – 150 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Green, Yellow

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Coral food, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Frozen

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Space Invader is an aquacultured Pectinia alcicornis color morph developed by ORA, showing green and yellow tones across plating, folded tissue. It spreads across the sandbed or a flat ledge rather than encrusting rock, and puts out sweeper tentacles after dark, so nearby corals need clearance. A hardy, low-light LPS suited to most reef setups once acclimated slowly.

Care

Pectinia is a hardy LPS that tolerates a wide range of flow and lighting once acclimated slowly, though it colors up best under low to moderate light around 50-150 PAR. Give it open space on the sandbed or a flat ledge in the lower half of the tank since its plates and pillars extend sweeper tentacles at night that can reach nearby corals. Moderate, somewhat random flow keeps detritus from settling in its folds without damaging the delicate tissue.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate to lighting slowly since sudden increases in intensity can cause bleaching. Place the frag or colony on the sandbed or a flat rocky ledge in the lower to middle part of the tank, since it does not encrust rock like many other corals and needs a stable horizontal surface to spread over.

Feeding

This coral gets most of its energy from photosynthesis but responds well to supplemental feeding in nutrient-poor systems. Fine particulate foods such as phytoplankton, amino acid dosing, or dosed zooplankton work better than direct spot feeding since the corallite mouths are small. It generally does better with a bit more dissolved nutrient in the water column than ultra-clean reef systems provide.

Neighbors

Keep several inches of clearance between Pectinia and neighboring corals, since it puts out sweeper tentacles that can sting sessile invertebrates within reach. It is not aggressive toward fish and pairs fine with most reef tank inhabitants, but avoid placing it near slow-growing or immobile corals that cannot be moved away if contact occurs. Avoid crowding it against other semi-aggressive LPS that could sting back.

Fragging

Frags are produced by cutting or carefully snapping off sections of the plating branches or pillars, which is relatively straightforward compared to many other LPS. Allow cut edges to heal in stable, low-flow conditions before moving frags to their permanent spot.

Pests & problems

Tissue can appear tight or puffed depending on flow, light, and feeding, without this necessarily indicating a problem. Bleaching risk increases if lighting is pushed too high too quickly, so acclimate new colonies gradually. Watch for flatworms or nudibranchs that occasionally target LPS corals and inspect new frags before adding them to the display.

Sources

1. Easy corals: The Space Invader Pectinia | Reef Builders
2. Space Invader Pectinia - Reef Casa
3. ORA Space Invader Pectinia Coral | AlgaeBarn
4. ORA Space Invader Pectinia Coral - Bulk Reef Supply