Starry Cup Coral

About

Starry Cup Coral (Micromussa lordhowensis) is a large-polyp stony coral that has earned a solid reputation as one of the more approachable LPS options for reef keepers who are still finding their footing. Native to a broad sweep of the Western Pacific, from Malaysia across to Melanesia and ranging from southern Japan down to New South Wales, Australia, it occupies reef environments from the shallows right down to about 30 meters. In the wild it tends to favor lower-energy zones, which translates well to aquarium life. This is a coral that does not demand intense lighting or turbulent flow, making placement in many mixed reef setups fairly straightforward. The polyps themselves are rounded and fleshy, and captive specimens are available in a remarkable range of colors including reds, greens, purples, and multicolored combinations, often with contrasting oral discs that give each colony real visual depth. Colonies grow in tight, encrusting clusters where individual corallites are clearly defined, giving the whole piece a textured, almost jewel-like quality. Like most LPS corals it will extend sweeper tentacles, so give it a little space from neighbors. It will accept target feeding, which can noticeably improve growth rate and color over time.