Elegance Coral (LPS) (Catalaphyllia jardinei)

Elegance Coral (LPS) Catalaphyllia jardinei
Name	Elegance Coral (LPS)
Name Lat.	Catalaphyllia jardinei
Family	Hammer Corals
Family lat.	Euphylliidae
Order	Stony Corals
Order lat.	Scleractinia
Origin	Indo-Pacific
Diet	Autotrophic, planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-12 °KH
Lighting	Medium
Current	Moderate
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Colony
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B
Metric Units
Size	20-40 cm
Temperature	24-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	7.9"-16"
Temperature	75-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

The Catalaphyllia jardinei belong to the group of LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia). Their range is the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from South Africa to Vanuatu and from southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef. They live there mostly in turbid, plankton-rich lagoons on sandy, often seagrass-covered bottoms down to 40 m depth.

Maintenance

It should be positioned at the bottom in a sandy spot with not too high light intensity and weak to medium alternating current

As a substrate, only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates should be used. The aquarium should not lack live stones, which act as a biological filter. To ensure water quality, filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. Lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-12 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
calcium content: 420-450 mg/l	Nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l
Magnesium content: 1.250-1.350 mg/l	phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l

Regular addition of trace elements, especially iodine and strontium, is recommended. For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention shall be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.

Diet

Zooxanthellae, which are unicellular symbiotic algae, live in their tissue and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (high light requirement). The zooxanthellae promote growth and provide additional food to the plankton and small particles that are collected in large quantities from the water current. Thus, in addition to the food produced in the aquarium during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercially available supplementary food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered regularly. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should not be kept with fish that consider their polyps as food (e.g. angelfish or butterflyfish). Since they nettle strongly and expand a lot during the day, a sufficiently large distance to other corals, especially to hammer corals, must be kept. They are sensitive to touch.

Reproduction and breeding

In nature, reproduction occurs sexually via marine larval stages. Reproduction by formation of daughter colonies (budding) is also possible. Successful breeding in the aquarium has not been reported so far.

Species protection

Species protection: WA Appendix II; EU Appendix B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe! Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Important

They should not be placed directly under a light source.

The additional illumination with actinic light (short-wave, violet-blue light) is very beneficial for their growth (zooxanthellae). A calcium reactor and magnesium metering pump are recommended for the necessary steady supply of calcium carbonate and magnesium. Too high temperature, insufficient lighting or current as well as sudden change of water values can lead to tissue decay (RTN - rapid tissue necrosis). When purchasing, look for pressure marks or other tissue damage. Newly introduced animals must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium. If different species are kept together, make sure that fish and invertebrates match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the ecological needs of all species kept together. Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Helmut Kreutmayer

Source: ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch; VERON (2000): Corals of the world, Australian Institute of Marine Science