Blue Crust Coral
Porites branneri
Also known as: Blude Curst Coral, hump coral
A rare blue encrusting coral that forms textured plates with nodular ridges.
About
Blue crust coral (Porites branneri) is one of those species that stops you mid-scroll. That blue coloration is genuinely unusual for a Porites, and it can shift toward purple depending on your lighting and camera white balance. In the wild it occupies protected shallow reef zones, growing as thin encrusting plates decorated with small nodular upgrowths that give the colony a subtly bumpy, sculptured look. The skeletal structure is fairly typical for the genus, with evenly spaced and uniform septa throughout the corallites, but the form and color together make it visually distinct from its relatives. In the aquarium, it falls into intermediate territory. Not something you want to drop into an unstable or newly cycled system, but not a white-knuckle challenge either. High light and moderate flow are the main requirements, and like most encrusting Porites it appreciates a settled, consistent environment rather than one that fluctuates. Give it a flat surface with good light exposure and it should slowly extend its plating growth over time. It is reef safe and poses no threat to neighbors, though you will want to leave it enough room to spread without running into other corals down the line.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Blue Crust Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Blue Crust Coral need?
- The Blue Crust Coral does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Blue Crust Coral reef safe?
- The Blue Crust Coral is generally considered reef safe.