Symphyllia Brain Coral Tosca Cerise Red (LPS) (Symphyllia sp.)
| Symphyllia Brain Coral Tosca Cerise Red (LPS) Symphyllia sp. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Symphyllia Brain Coral Tosca Cerise Red (LPS) |
| Name Lat. | Symphyllia sp. |
| Family | Brain Corals |
| Family lat. | Mussidae |
| Order | Stony Corals |
| Order lat. | Scleractinia |
| Origin | Indo-Pacific |
| Diet | Autotrophic, planktivore |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
| Hardness | 8-10 °KH |
| Lighting | High |
| Current | Strong |
| Behavior | Semi-aggressive |
| Keeping | Colony |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Life Span | N/A |
| Protection | CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 15-20 cm |
| Temperature | 24-27 °C |
| Salinity | 33-36 ‰ |
| Aquarium | 200 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 5.9"-7.9" |
| Temperature | 75-81 °F |
| Salinity | 1.020-1.025 sg |
| Aquarium | 50 gal |
Distribution and habitat
Symphyllia spp. 'Tosca Cerise Red' belongs to the group of LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia). This reef-building coral is common in the Red Sea, tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans. It occurs in colonies up to 20 cm in diameter on all areas of the reef.
Maintenance
They should be positioned in a place with high light intensity and strong, alternating current. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates should be used as substrate
To ensure water quality, filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary, 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 tissues and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (high light intensity). 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 in the aquarium during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercial 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). With other corals they are only conditionally compatible, sufficient distance to other animals must be kept, since they nettle strongly.
Reproduction and breeding
In nature, reproduction is sexual via marine larval stages. In the aquarium they can be propagated well 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
The additional illumination with actinic light (short-wave, violet-blue light) is very beneficial for their growth (zooxanthellae)
For the necessary uniform supply of calcium carbonate and magnesium, a calcium reactor and a magnesium metering pump are recommended. 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: Werner Winter
Source: VERON (2000): Corals of the world, Australian Institute of Marine Science; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch