Hedgehog Coral

About

Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora mammiformis) is a large-growing, plate-and-branch forming coral found in shallow reef environments, particularly in lagoons and along back reef margins where water movement tends to be gentler. In the wild, colonies can stretch well beyond five metres across, developing a contorted, branching architecture interspersed with flattened plate sections. A growth form that gives mature specimens a genuinely dramatic presence on the reef. The corallites themselves are conical and moderately sized, and each one features a distinctively spiraled columella that you can appreciate up close. Coloration is one of this species' most recognizable traits: a cream base contrasts with blue corallites that can shift toward purple depending on your lighting and camera white balance, so don't be surprised if photos look different from what you see in the tank. In the aquarium, Echinopora mammiformis is considered an intermediate-level coral. Not the most demanding species on the reef, but not a beginner's first choice either. It appreciates moderate lighting and flow, and like other encrusting and plating Echinopora species, it will need space to spread without being crowded by aggressive neighbors. Give it room and stable water quality and it tends to reward you with steady, impressive growth.