Strawberry Shortcake Acropora Care Guide
Strawberry Shortcake Acropora (Acropora millepora var. 'Strawberry Shortcake') is a SPS coral. Care covers 300-450 PAR, high flow, reef parameters and feeding; expert level.
Overview
Strawberry Shortcake Acropora (Acropora millepora var. 'Strawberry Shortcake') is a SPS coral in the family Acroporidae. Pink-bodied milli with bright blue tips and white polyps. One of the most coveted designer Acropora morphs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae
- Genus: Acropora
- Scientific name: Acropora millepora var. 'Strawberry Shortcake'
- Common synonyms: SSC, Strawberry Shortcake
Habitat
This morph of Acropora millepora var. 'Strawberry Shortcake' is propagated exclusively in aquaculture and is not sourced from wild reefs. The parent species naturally occupies shallow reef flats and upper slopes (typically 1-15 m) and grows in a branching form, which the aquacultured fragments retain in the home reef.
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): 300-450 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 millepora var. 'Strawberry Shortcake' 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: expert. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.3-0.7 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.