Echinulata Trumpet Care Guide
Echinulata Trumpet (Caulastrea echinulata) is a LPS coral. Care covers 50-150 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; beginner level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Echinulata Trumpet (Caulastrea echinulata) is a LPS coral in the family Merulinidae. Caulastrea variant with denser corallite spacing and pronounced septa. Hardy and easy to frag.
Taxonomy
- Family: Merulinidae
- Genus: Caulastrea
- Scientific name: Caulastrea echinulata
- Common synonyms: Branched Trumpet
Habitat
In the wild, Caulastrea echinulata is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a branching growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.05 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 10 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 50-150 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Caulastrea echinulata hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, reef-roids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is passive toward neighbours. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: beginner. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.3-0.6 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.
Caulastrea echinulata Propagation Guide
Overview
Caulastraea echinulata is a recognised species of trumpet coral in the family Merulinidae. It is a Caulastrea variant with more densely spaced corallites and pronounced septa than the typical furcata. Like its relatives, it grows as a phaceloid colony of separate corallite heads on stalk-like branches and is a hardy, beginner-friendly LPS that is easy to frag.
Reproductive Mode
Aquarium propagation is asexual by fragmentation. Branching corals such as Caulastrea are the easiest LPS to frag because each head sits on its own branch and the colony only needs to be separated into individual pieces.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Identify the branch stalks between the densely packed heads.
- Separate the branches with coral cutters, or use a band saw for a flatter edge where heads sit close together.
- Cut into singles or doubles and shave the base flat.
- Glue each frag to a plug.
- Place frags in low flow and medium light to recover and bud new heads.
Because echinulata corallites sit closer together, take a little extra care to cut on the connecting skeleton rather than into an adjacent head.
Conditions for Propagation
Hold temperature around 24-26 degrees Celsius and pH 8.1-8.4 with stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. As a Caulastrea, it tolerates a wide PAR and flow range, so low to moderate flow and medium light suit fresh frags; light feeding aids recovery.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction occurs on the reef and is not used in the hobby. The consulted sources do not document captive spawning, so propagation relies on fragmentation and natural budding.
Common Challenges
Echinulata is a passive, peaceful coral, so it poses little aggression risk. The closer head spacing raises the chance of nicking a neighbouring corallite during fragging, so cut carefully on the bare branch and keep fresh cuts clean to prevent infection.