Larger Star Coral (LPS) (Favites flexuosa)

Larger Star Coral (LPS) Favites flexuosa
Name	Larger Star Coral (LPS)
Name Lat.	Favites flexuosa
Family	Merulinid Corals
Family lat.	Merulinidae
Order	Stony Corals
Order lat.	Scleractinia
Origin	Indo-West Pacific
Diet	Autotrophic, planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Lighting	Medium-high
Current	Moderate-strong
Behavior	Aggressive
Keeping	Colony
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B
Metric Units
Size	< 40 cm
Temperature	22-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	< 16"
Temperature	72-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Favites flexuosa belongs to the group of LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia). This reef-building coral is widely distributed in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, as well as in the Western Pacific. They are variably colored and live in many reef habitats, especially in well-flowed shallow water down to 20 m depth.

Maintenance

They should be positioned in a place with higher light intensity and moderate to strong, alternating current. Only high-calcium, heavy metal-free substrates should be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. It is recommended that live stones be used to set up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. The lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °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 calcium 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, which are collected in large quantities from the water current. Thus, in addition to the food produced during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercial supplementary food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered regularly in the evening

Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should not be kept with fish that regard their polyps as food (e.g. angelfish or butterflyfish). As they are strongly nettled and develop long tentacles during the night, a sufficiently large distance to other corals must be maintained.

Reproduction and breeding

In nature, reproduction is sexual via marine larval stages. In the aquarium they can be reproduced conditionally by fragmentation. Fragments are fixed in the reef structure, e.g. with a good two-component coral glue (epoxy).

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 form large, encrusting, usually massive colonies.

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: petdata; Image: petdata

Source: ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch; KNOP (2013): Lexikon der Meeresaquaristik, Natur und Tier - Verlag