Star Coral (LPS) (Montastraea spp.)

Star Coral (LPS) Montastraea spp.
Name	Star Coral (LPS)
Name Lat.	Montastraea spp.
Family	Montastraeidae
Family lat.	Montastraeidae
Order	Stony Corals
Order lat.	Scleractinia
Origin	Caribbean Sea
Diet	Autotrophic, planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-12 °KH
Lighting	High
Current	Strong
Behavior	Semi-aggressive
Keeping	Colony
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B
Metric Units
Size	Up to 50 cm
Temperature	23-28 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	Up to 20"
Temperature	73-82 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Montastraea spp. belongs to the LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia) group. This rapidly growing reef-building coral is widely distributed in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. They prefer to live in shallow water exposed to currents, excluding the surf zone, and form large colonies. According to their species and origin, they occur in different color and growth forms.

Maintenance

It should be positioned at the bottom in a place with very high light intensity and medium to strong, 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.), commercial supplemental food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered once or twice a week. 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). They are well tolerated with other corals, but sufficient distance must be kept from cnidarians.

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 are easily confused with the Montastrea found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans

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: Alex Rinesch

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