Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites desilveri) is a relatively uncommon species found in the shallow reef environments of the eastern Indian Ocean, with its known range centered around India and Sri Lanka, including lagoon habitats where water conditions tend to be calmer. In the wild it forms encrusting colonies with a surface that ranges from smooth to distinctly nodular, sometimes developing short branch-like projections that give the colony a lumpy, irregular profile. Coloration is generally grey with pale or white tips on the nodules, which is understated compared to many other reef-building corals but gives it a clean, textured look up close. One curious feature is that the skeletal septa are so irregular that the typical Porites corallite pattern can be difficult to recognize, which occasionally makes identification tricky even for experienced reef keepers. In the aquarium this species calls for strong lighting and moderate flow to replicate the well-lit, lightly agitated conditions of its native lagoon habitat. It is considered an intermediate-level coral, so while it is not the most demanding Porites around, it is probably best suited to reefers who already have a stable, established system rather than those setting up their first reef tank.