• Name:

    Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

    (View AKA's)
  • Family: Mussidae
  • Species: Acanthastrea
  • Scientific Name: Acanthastrea echinata
More Details

Also Know As:

| Purple Bullseye

| Spiny Honeycomb Coral

| Starry Cup Coral

General info about Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

In the wild, Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata comes in two forms: either encrusting or massive. Their colonies may reach over a meter in length. They have circular corallites with thick walls and septa that have long and pointed teeth. Their skeleton is covered with a thick fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

The color of Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata is typically mottled dull brown to gray or green. However, they can be brightly colored which can be influenced by environmental factors especially in waters with high nutrient level. This is best exhibited in captive breeding where growers have produced a lavender and bright green variety. One of the popular breeding varieties is the Orange Crush Acan Echinata, Rainbow Acan Echinata, and Lavender Green Acan Echinata.

You also have to look out for other factors and must stay within the range:

  • Calcium: 400 - 450 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.8 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1200 - 1350
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 76° - 83° F (24° - 28° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata Diet & Nutrition

In the wild, Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata has developed a symbiotic feeding relationship with marine algae called zooxanthellae. But in captivity, you have to feed them with nanoplankton or dissolved organics.

Fragging / Propagating Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata. Thriving them with fish is recommended as fish excretes nitrogen that can sustain the coral's growth.

Flow / Lighting Requirements for Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata does not need a high flow rate and intense light. Giving them moderate lighting allows the Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata to spread their polyps thereby allowing them to feed. Too much light will cause the polyps to be retracted.

Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata Origin

Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. They are widely distributed from East Africa (the Red Sea to Polynesia), Japan, Marshall Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef and Solitary Islands of Australia.

Caution Should be Taken with Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

Except for their kind, Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata is aggressive towards other species. During the night, they extend their tentacles and sting nearby corals. It is recommended to observe proper spacing between corals. Further, they have the tendency to be overpowered with soft corals and will die especially if soft corals outnumber them.

How to Acclimate Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata are purely marine. So, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.

Stinging Tentacles on Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata

During the night, they extend their tentacles and sting nearby corals.

Relevent Articles

Original Detail

Name Species Family Scientific Name More Detail Added by
Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata Acanthastrea Mussidae Acanthastrea echinata

In the wild, Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata comes in two forms: either encrusting or massive. Their colonies may reach over a meter in length. They have circular corallites with thick walls and septa that have long and pointed teeth. Their skeleton is covered with a thick fleshy tissue that usually forms a concentric fold.

The color of Blue Snowflake Acan Echinata is typically mottled dull brown to gray or green. However, they can be brightly colored which can be influenced by environmental factors especially in waters with high nutrient level. This is best exhibited in captive breeding where growers have produced a lavender and bright green variety. One of the popular breeding varieties is the Orange Crush Acan Echinata, Rainbow Acan Echinata, and Lavender Green Acan Echinata.

You also have to look out for other factors and must stay within the range:

  • Calcium: 400 - 450 ppm
  • Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.8 MEQ/L
  • Phosphates: 0
  • Magnesium: 1200 - 1350
  • Strontium: 8 - 10
  • Temperature: 76° - 83° F (24° - 28° C)
  • Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
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