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Montastrea WYSIWYG
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The Montastrea
When it comes to diversity, it’s hard to think of a more visually diverse group of corals. These brain-shaped corals develop multiple growth forms and come in nearly every imaginable color and pattern.
See below for additional care tips for Montastrea
Location
Montastrea are found in the Caribbean seas and the Great Barrier Reef.
Lighting
Moderate to high lighting is ideal. Montastrea corals do not change their coloration significantly based on lighting intensity or type, unlike many other LPS corals. However, they may require a longer acclimation period to intense lighting.
Low light |
Low light ranges between 30 - 50 PAR per unit area |
Moderate light |
Moderate light ranges between 50 - 150 PAR per unit area |
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High light |
High light is above 150 PAR per unit area |
Water Flow
We recommend placing the coral in a relatively low-flow area of the tank. Excessive flow may stress this species and prevent full polyp extension.
Feeding
Like most corals, favias and favites largely rely on their zooxanthellae, but in our experience, they also benefit from direct feeding. There are various frozen fish foods available that make excellent meals for Favias. We like to feed a mix of meaty foods such as shrimp, fish, and squid with vitamin and highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) supplements. The food size should be small enough for the polyp to ingest completely. Favites usually have smaller mouths than Favia.
Warning
Montastrea are among the corals that extend long tentacles. In fact, Favites can be more aggressive than larger Favias. These tentacles are often used as a defense mechanism against other encroaching coral colonies. The white tips contain a high concentration of nematocysts that can damage more delicate corals. Most of the time, this is not a big issue, but for safety, we recommend placing it away from other corals at first.
