Acropora squarrosa: Propagation Guide
Propagation of Acropora squarrosa: snapping branch tips and mounting on plugs, the bright light and turbulent water it demands, plus the genus's natural broadcast spawning.
Overview
Acropora squarrosa is a branching small-polyp stony coral of the family Acroporidae. Acropora may grow as slender or broad branches, and finger-sized fragments can reach much larger colony sizes within one to two years given proper care. It is demanding but rewards aquarists with rapid growth once stable.
Reproductive Mode
The genus reproduces sexually as a hermaphroditic broadcast spawner and asexually through fragmentation. In aquaria, fragmentation is the dependable approach because each frag is a genetic clone of the parent.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Identify a healthy donor colony with multiple growing branch tips.
- Snap or cut an Acropora tip several centimetres long with bone cutters.
- Glue the frag to a plug or piece of rock with cyanoacrylate, or fix it with a peg.
- Position it under bright light and strong turbulent flow so it can encrust and form a new axial corallite.
Conditions for Propagation
Acropora requires bright light, stable temperatures, regular calcium and alkalinity supplementation, and clean, turbulent water. Vigorous flow prevents detritus from accumulating on cut surfaces and supports fast healing.
Sexual Reproduction
Acropora colonies are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners that release buoyant gamete bundles of eggs and sperm during mass synchronized spawning. These bundles float upward, break apart and fertilise externally, producing larvae that can be reared for reef restoration. Such spawning rarely occurs in home tanks, where fragmentation dominates.