Lesser Valley Coral
Platygyra yaeyamaensis
A compact brain coral with a pleasingly ragged, textured surface.
About
The lesser valley coral (Platygyra yaeyamaensis) is a brain-type stony coral native to the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from Japan's Ryukyu Islands south through Indonesia. In the wild it occupies reef environments from shallow water down to around 30 meters, making it a broadly distributed and adaptable species. Colonies grow in encrusting or submassive forms and tend to stay relatively compact, with most corallites appearing monocentric. Particularly toward the center of the colony. The septa protrude noticeably and carry irregular teeth that give the whole colony a somewhat ragged, textured look, which sets it apart from the smoother appearance of some related brain corals. Columellae are indistinct and paliform lobes are only weakly developed. Coloration runs toward brown or cream, and some individuals show green or cream valley floors that add a bit of contrast to an otherwise understated palette. In the aquarium this is an intermediate-level coral, not especially demanding but not a beginner's first stony coral either. It does well under moderate lighting and moderate flow, both of which mirror the varied reef zones it inhabits naturally. Given its encrusting growth form, it works well on rockwork and doesn't require much vertical space to develop properly.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Lesser Valley Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What water parameters does the Lesser Valley Coral need?
- The Lesser Valley Coral does best with a temperature of 72–82°F, a pH of 8–8.4.
- Is the Lesser Valley Coral reef safe?
- The Lesser Valley Coral is generally considered reef safe.