Starflower Coral

About

Starflower Coral (Astreopora moretonensis) is an uncommon species with a relatively restricted natural range in the southwestern Pacific, found hugging rocky foreshores in very shallow, wave-washed water. In the wild it grows at depths of just a few meters, which tells you a lot about what it expects in captivity. Intense, consistent light and vigorous flow that mimics those exposed, high-energy reef conditions. The colony form is laminar to encrusting, sometimes developing irregular columns or tube-like projections on its upper surface, with fine rootlets anchoring the underside. Corallites are largely immersed into the smooth coenosteum, though they can take on a more conical profile on rounded or convex growth surfaces. Coloration is understated, typically cream to brown, so this isn't a coral you keep for a bold color show. What makes it interesting is its unusual growth architecture and its place in a genus that doesn't turn up in the hobby all that often. Given its shallow-water origins and narrow geographic range, Astreopora moretonensis is best suited to experienced reefers who can provide the high-output lighting and strong flow it needs, and who appreciate a less-common piece over something more immediately flashy.