Hedgehog Coral

About

Hedgehog coral (Echinopora gemmacea) is a Indo-Pacific species found across shallow, protected reef environments from just below the surface down to around 50 meters. In the wild it takes on a range of growth forms, flat laminar sheets, encrusting plates, submassive mounds, and occasionally contorted branching structures, which makes it one of the more visually variable corals you might encounter at a fish store. The surface has a distinctly rough, bumpy texture thanks to its corallites, which measure roughly 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters across, with prominent, outward-reaching septa that give the colony that characteristic spiky appearance the common name refers to. Coloration tends toward muted tones. Greys, pale creams, tans, and earthy browns are typical, though green variants do appear and can be quite attractive in a reef display. In captivity, Hedgehog coral sits comfortably in the intermediate category: it doesn't demand the intense light or surge-level flow that some SPS corals require, but it does need stable water quality and consistent parameters to thrive long-term. Beginners who have gotten past the basics of reef keeping and are ready to try their first small-polyp stony coral will find this species a reasonable starting point, provided husbandry is dialed in.