Blasto Wellsi care guide
Blasto Wellsi (Blastomussa wellsi) — reef coral, 24-26 °C, PAR 50-125, salinity 1.024-1.026.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Blastomussa wellsi is the larger-polyp Blastomussa, with fleshy pineapple-like polyps that completely cover the corallites when fully inflated. It is hardy and tolerant of low light, making it useful for shaded zones in a mixed reef.
Taxonomy
- Family: Plesiastreidae
- Genus: Blastomussa
- Scientific name: Blastomussa wellsi
- Common synonyms: Wellsi Blasto, Pineapple Blasto
Habitat
Native to the Indo-Pacific. Wild colonies are typical of shaded overhangs and turbid back-reef habitats where ambient light is reduced.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity (SG): 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.05 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 10 ppm
Placement and lighting
- Lighting (PAR): 50-125 PAR
- Flow: low
- Recommended tank age: 3 months
- Growth rate: 0.2-0.4 cm/mo
Place in the lower half of the aquarium under low to moderate light. Gentle flow allows the polyps to inflate fully; strong directional flow keeps them retracted and slows growth.
Feeding
Photosynthetic and benefits from occasional spot-feeding with mysis or reef-roids. Feed once weekly; the large mouths accept relatively large particles.
Compatibility
Passive and non-stinging. Compatible with most other corals in a mixed reef and reef-safe with shrimp and fish.
Care notes
Hardy and reliable for shaded placements in maturing reefs. Avoid letting detritus collect on the colony; periodic gentle water movement around the head improves health.
Blastomussa wellsi Propagation Guide
Overview
Blastomussa wellsi is a large-polyp stony coral in the genus Blastomussa, sometimes kept in reef aquariums. It grows as a colony of fleshy, pineapple-like polyps, each seated on its own corallite stalk, with the individual heads connected by a shared tissue base. This colonial, branching arrangement is what makes the species suited to fragmentation.
Reproductive Mode
In aquaria Blastomussa wellsi is propagated asexually by fragmentation. Because the colony is built from separate polyp heads on individual corallite branches connected by tissue, it can be divided between heads into smaller pieces that each grow out into a new colony. It is a slow grower, so frags take time to fill in.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Keep the colony fully submerged while handling, as the polyps must stay protected during the cut.
- Identify the branching pattern; plan cuts so each frag keeps one or more polyps on its own skeleton.
- Cut between the polyps, slicing as far below each head as possible so the polyp tissue is not damaged.
- Use a rotary tool or a coral band saw rather than bone shears, since the skeleton is awkward to divide with cutters.
- Glue each single-head frag to a plug and place it in low flow and low-to-moderate light to recover.
Slicing parallel to the surface of the polyps lets a denser colony separate into single-head frags.
Conditions for Propagation
Blastomussa is adaptable but recovers best in shaded, calm placement. Low to moderate lighting suits it, and it does not tolerate strong SPS-style flow. Stable temperature near 24-26 degrees Celsius, pH 8.1-8.4, and steady alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium support healing and new growth.
Common Challenges
Blastomussa has extremely sensitive flesh that is prone to infection if it is damaged, so any tear during fragging can invite tissue loss. Regular feeding helps frags recover and grow slightly faster, but the species remains a slow grower that rewards consistent, gentle care.