Echinophyllia aspera (Chalice Coral) Care Guide
Echinophyllia aspera is a widespread Indo-Pacific chalice coral with plating, encrusting growth and bright corallite eyes; IUCN status Least Concern.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Echinophyllia aspera is a colonial stony coral commonly known as a chalice coral. Colonies can reach up to about 60 cm across and may be encrusting, hummocky, or thickened with plates, whorls or tiers. Small colonies start with a large central corallite surrounded by widely spaced peripheral ones; corallites are usually level with the surface, occur mainly on the upper surface, and bear stony ridges (septo-costae) radiating from the centre.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Echinophyllia
- Scientific name: Echinophyllia aspera
- Authority: (Ellis & Solander, 1786)
Habitat
The species ranges from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Japan, Australia and many Pacific island groups. It is found at middle depths of about 10-30 m in sheltered fore-reef habitats, favouring shaded locations. Coloration is usually some shade of brown, green or red, sometimes with contrasting oral discs.
Aquarium care
- Temperature: 24-26 degrees C (75-79 degrees F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- Alkalinity (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Difficulty: intermediate
- Minimum tank maturity: about 3 months
Lighting and flow
As a chalice coral, Echinophyllia is kept under lower to moderate light, around 50-150 PAR, with direct high-intensity light avoided to prevent bleaching. Moderate to low, indirect water flow keeps the colony clean while preventing the tissue recession that strong direct currents can cause.
Feeding
Echinophyllia is primarily photosynthetic through its zooxanthellae but benefits from occasional spot feeding with small meaty foods such as mysis and brine shrimp; these corals are slow eaters and feed best after dark.
Compatibility
Chalice corals can deploy long sweeper tentacles that sting neighbouring corals, so colonies should be given ample spacing. The species is reported as reef-safe alongside fish and shrimp.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern.
Echinophyllia aspera Chalice: Propagation Guide
Overview
Echinophyllia aspera is a large-polyp stony coral that is partly encrusting and partly forms laminate plates or tiers, with colonies reaching up to 60 cm across and sometimes hummocky with plates, whorls, or tiers. Its corallites are usually level with the surface but may be protuberant, normally only on the upper surface. It ranges across the western and central Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Japan and the Pacific islands.
Reproductive Mode
Echinophyllia is a colonial large-polyp stony coral of the Indo-Pacific. As with chalice corals generally, sexual reproduction occurs by gamete release in the wild, while in aquaria the species is propagated asexually by cutting the encrusting plate. The fluorescent corallites, or eyes, mark the live polyps that each frag must retain.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Chalices are fragged by cutting sections of the plate, ensuring at least one eye per frag, avoiding cutting through an eye, and confirming each frag has a mouth to feed. The cut edges are prone to bacterial infection, so an iodine dip is recommended before the frag is glued to a plug and left to heal.
Conditions for Propagation
Chalices do best under lower-moderate lighting, around 100 PAR, with moderate to lower flow strong enough to prevent debris settling on the tissue. Given the right conditions chalices show rapid growth, which makes them strong aquaculture candidates.
Common Challenges
The chief risks are bacterial infection of the cut margin, mitigated by the iodine dip, and stinging contact with neighbors as the frag expands. Listed by the IUCN as Least Concern in the wild, the species is widespread and considered relatively resilient.