Pore Coral
Montipora efflorescens
A textured, papillae-covered Montipora that rewards skilled reefers with vivid color.
About
Pore coral (Montipora efflorescens) is one of the more texturally interesting members of a genus that already has a lot going on. Colonies grow in a submassive to encrusting form, building up irregular mounds, short columns, or flattened plates depending on the light and flow conditions they encounter. What sets it apart visually is the surface detail: the skeleton is covered in small projections called papillae, which tend to be elongated on the raised mounds and shorter across flat areas. Around each corallite opening, a ring of slightly taller thecal papillae gives the surface a distinctly bumpy, almost quilted look under good lighting. Coloration ranges from bright or dark green to cream, brown, and occasionally blue or pink. Blue specimens can read as purple in photographs, which trips up more than a few hobbyists trying to ID frags. In the wild it occupies the upper slopes of Indo-Pacific reefs, from just below the surface down to around 26 meters, across a broad tropical to subtropical range. In the aquarium it demands serious attention to both lighting and flow. This is not a beginner coral. Give it intense, consistent light and vigorous water movement, and it will slowly build out into an impressive textured formation.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Pore Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Pore Coral need?
- The Pore Coral does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Pore Coral reef safe?
- The Pore Coral is generally considered reef safe.