Skittles Acropora

<div class="more_detail"> <p>In general, species from Acropora may grow either as a plate, slender or broad branching type of reef building corals. Each branch has several colonies that is composed of several corallites. When undisturb, their polyps will extend. But it will retract and hide inside the pores as a response to water movement or threat by nearby predators. They are common in shallow reefs with good visibility and strong water movement. They are noted as a refuge for small fish.</p> <p>For the Skittles Acropora, they are predominatly colored green with violet tips. This are the water parameters for cultivating Skittles Acropora:</p> <ul> <li>Calcium: 400 - 450 ppm</li> <li>Alkalinity: 3.2 - 4.5 MEQ/L</li> <li>Phosphates: 0</li> <li>Magnesium: 1350 - 1500</li> <li>Strontium: 10</li> <li><span class="subListHeading1">Temperature: </span>72° - 78° F (22° - 26° C)</li> <li><span class="subListHeading1">Salinity / Specific Gravity:</span> 1.024 - 1.025</li> </ul> </div>

<p>Feeding the Skittles Acropora in captivity with nano-zooplankton once a week is recommended. Do not feed them with copepods, artemia and other nauplii as they too large for them to ingest. The addition of dissolved organics is also recommended.</p>

<div class="determining_sex"> <p>A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Skittles Acropora. They require stable tank condition and that a sudden change could lead to stress and death. They are highly sensitive to temperature, sedimentation, chemical and environmental change.</p> </div>

<p><span class="subListHeading1">Skittles Acropora require moderate to intense lighting and strong water flow. They are known to stress out in low light environment and slow water flow.</span></p>

<p>Being both a tropical and subtropical species, Skittles Acropora are found in the entire Indo-Pacific region particularly in Fiji, Sulu Sea, Madagascar, Phoenix Island, Marshall Islands and Australia.</p>

<div class="caution"> <p>You have to watch out for crabs. Except for the commensal crabs, most decapods and other crustaceans do not do well with Skittles Acropora. Avoid moving them from place to place as this can cause stress and death.</p> <p>Skittles Acropora do not have stinging tentacles. But they have digestive strands like Acontia and Terpins that could be released if they are set to nearby corals. They are specifically aggressive to zoanthids and soft leather corals.</p> </div>

<div class="acclimation_process"> <p>Skittles Acropora should be carefully acclimated. They should be placed in their permanent position immediately after acclimation. It takes 6 months for them to regain normal growth. They are purely marine, therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 s<span class="subListHeading1">pecific gravity.</span></p> </div>

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