Staghorn Coral

About

Found on both turbid and clear upper and lower reef slopes across the Indo-Pacific, Acropora acuminata is a table-forming coral built from fused horizontal branches whose tips curve upward and taper to distinct points. That tapered, almost spiky branch tip is one of the cleaner ways to identify it in a lineup of similar Acropora species. The corallites along the horizontal branches sit mostly flush with the skeleton, while those on the upright branches tend to come in two sizes, with the larger ones forming distinct tubular openings with crisp, sharp edges. The skeleton itself takes on a permanently dark tone, which shows through even when the living tissue is present. Colony coloration runs from pale to bright blue or brown depending on conditions. In the aquarium this is firmly advanced territory. Acropora as a genus already demands stable, well-maintained water and consistent husbandry, and this species is no exception. It needs intense lighting and strong, consistent flow to mirror the energetic reef environments it occupies in the wild. This is not a coral for a newly established system or a keeper still dialing in their parameters. For an experienced reefer with a mature, stable tank, it can be a genuinely rewarding piece to grow out.