Bali Shortcake

About

Bali Shortcake (Acropora latistella) is a plate-forming SPS coral that grows in wide, corymbose sheets studded with fine, delicate branchlets that are either straight or gently curved. The radial corallites sit in a distinctive rosette pattern, pressed close to the branches with neatly rounded openings, while the axial corallites tend to be prominent enough to identify the species once you know what to look for. Coloration is usually understated. Creamy white, grey, or brown being the norm, with occasional hints of green or purple, and branch tips that sometimes pick up a soft yellow tone. One charming quirk: this species routinely extends its tentacles during daylight hours, giving colonies an almost fuzzy, alive quality even at midday. In the wild, it turns up across a surprisingly broad range of environments and is notably tolerant of turbid, shallower conditions where water clarity is not ideal. Unusual for an Acropora. In the aquarium, though, do not mistake that habitat flexibility for forgiveness under artificial conditions. Like most of its genus, it demands intense lighting, strong and consistent flow, and very stable water chemistry. This one is firmly in the advanced keeper category, best suited to a mature, well-dialed reef system.