Staghorn Coral Care Guide
Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) is a SPS coral. Care covers 250-400 PAR, high flow, reef parameters and feeding; advanced level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) is a SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. Caribbean reef-builder; cylindrical antler-like branches. CITES II species; critical to Atlantic reef ecology.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Acropora
- Scientific name: Acropora cervicornis
- Common synonyms: Staghorn, Atlantic Staghorn
Habitat
In the wild, Acropora cervicornis is reported from Caribbean, where it occupies shallow reef flats and upper slopes (typically 1-15 m). The species adopts a branching growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.025-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 7.5-9
- Calcium: 420-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 1 year
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 250-400 PAR
- Water flow: high
Place this SPS coral on the upper rockwork where light is bright and water movement is strong, ideally turbulent rather than laminar. Acclimate gradually to high PAR over 2-3 weeks to avoid bleaching. SPS demand a mature system: stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium with phosphate and nitrate kept ultra-low.
Feeding
Acropora cervicornis hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Additional feeding is generally not required when lighting is adequate.
Compatibility
This coral is passive toward neighbours. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: advanced. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.5-1.5 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for branching colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Acropora cervicornis Propagation Guide
Overview
Acropora cervicornis, the staghorn coral, is a Western Atlantic reef-builder with thick, upright branches that can grow in excess of 2 metres in height. It is found from the Florida Keys and the Bahamas to the various Caribbean islands. As an Acropora, its colony of small polyps lays down a calcium carbonate skeleton, with symbiotic algae producing energy through photosynthesis. Its propagation is overwhelmingly conservation-driven rather than a hobby activity.
Reproductive Mode
Fragmentation is the most common mode of reproduction for staghorn coral, where branch breakage from storms or disturbances leads to new colony establishment. This natural asexual process is exactly what restoration aquaculture harnesses to multiply the species.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
The Coral Restoration Foundation began artificial restoration in 2007, cultivating colonies in an offshore nursery, fixed on discs or hung from fishing lines, until they achieved 30 cm in diameter before being planted onto natural coral reefs. Staghorn grows rapidly, adding up to 5 cm of new skeleton for every 1 cm of existing skeleton each year, which makes nursery propagation effective.
- Healthy branches are fragmented from donor colonies within a restoration programme.
- Fragments are mounted on discs or suspended on lines or coral trees in ocean or land nurseries.
- Frags are grown out until large enough to survive on the reef.
- Grown colonies are outplanted onto degraded natural reefs.
Conditions for Propagation
Nursery and aquarium fragments need stable, warm reef conditions; temperature increases make staghorn more susceptible to bleaching events, so steady conditions are essential. As an Acropora, it requires high light and high flow and stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium to calcify.
Sexual Reproduction
Staghorn corals are simultaneous hermaphrodites that engage in broadcast spawning typically restricted to late summer, in July and August, occurring several days after a full moon. Sexual reproduction is used in restoration to maintain genetic diversity alongside fragmentation.