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Leptastrea “Burning Ember”
Unique Piece – “WYSIWYG”!
What You See Is What You Get
Leptastrea sp.
When looking for something different and out of the ordinary in a reef aquarium, Leptastrea corals stand out for their subtle beauty and unique character. Unlike many traditional LPS corals, this species features small polyps with an encrusting growth form and a distinctive soft, “fluffy” texture.
Location
Leptastrea corals are primarily found in the Indo-Pacific, with specimens originating from Australia and Indonesia. They may also occasionally appear as hitchhikers on other coral colonies from regions such as Vietnam.
Lighting
Leptastrea prefers low to moderate lighting and does not tolerate intense, direct light well. Excessive lighting may cause the polyps to retract and lose their characteristic “fluffy” appearance.
Low Light
Low light is between 30 – 50 PAR per unit area
Medium Light
Medium light is between 50 – 150 PAR per unit area
➡️ Ideal for most aquacultured Leptastrea (~100 PAR)
High Light
High light is above 150 PAR
⚠️ May cause polyp retraction and color loss if not slowly acclimated
Water Flow
We recommend placing this coral in an area of moderate, indirect water flow. Insufficient flow may allow detritus to settle, while excessive flow can stress the coral and prevent full polyp extension.
Feeding
Like most corals, Leptastrea relies heavily on its zooxanthellae, but it also benefits greatly from direct feeding. Small-sized foods such as zooplankton-based powders, rotifers, copepods, cyclops, and finely chopped frozen foods are ideal.
Target feeding 2–3 times per week with pumps turned off for 20–30 minutes can significantly enhance growth, although Leptastrea is also capable of capturing food from the water column.
Warning
Leptastrea is generally not highly aggressive, but as it grows in an encrusting manner, it can compete for space. Monitor placement carefully and avoid positioning it too close to more delicate corals.
