Meandering Pocillopora

Pocillopora meandrina

Family : Pocilloporidae

CoralMarinePocillopora

Branching coral forming massive colonies with thick, rounded branches. Very common in Indo-Pacific reefs.

Meandering Pocillopora — photo 1 sur 4 — Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain1 / 4

Popularity

SPS coral

small polyps, intense light

Availability

Order only

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Biotope

Indo-Pacific

Récifs coralliens de l'océan Indien et Pacifique tropical.

Description

Pocillopora meandrina is a colonial scleractinian coral with robust, often meandering branches. The polyps are small and retractile, giving a rough texture to the surface. Color ranges from light brown to pink, often with lighter tips. It can withstand moderate to strong currents. This species hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae. Its growth is relatively fast in aquariums. It can reach 50 cm in diameter.

Habitat

Region :

Shallow coral reefs, exposed to current

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature24–28 °C

pH8.1–8.4

GH8–12 °dGH

KH8–12 °dKH

Salinity1.023–1.025 ‰

NO₃

≤ 10 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.1 mg/L

Calcium

≥ 400 ppm

Magnesium

≥ 1300 ppm

Light

High

Care

Difficulty

3/5

Diet

Photosynthetic

Min. tank

100 L

Min. group

Adult size

50 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Propagation

fragmentation

Care notes

Maintain temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025. Intense lighting (LED or T5) is required. Strong water flow is recommended to mimic its natural habitat. Nitrate levels should stay below 10 ppm, phosphates below 0.1 ppm. Calcium (400-450 ppm) and magnesium (1300-1400 ppm) are essential. It is moderately aggressive towards other corals, so provide spacing. Propagation by fragmentation is easy.

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