Hedgehog Coral Care Guide
Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora gemmacea) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-175 PAR, medium flow, reef parameters and feeding; beginner level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora gemmacea) is a LPS coral in the family Merulinidae. Encrusting LPS with raised gem-like corallites. Bright neon green or pink morphs.
Taxonomy
- Family: Merulinidae
- Genus: Echinopora
- Scientific name: Echinopora gemmacea
- Common synonyms: Echinopora
Habitat
In the wild, Echinopora gemmacea is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a encrusting 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: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 75-175 PAR
- Water flow: medium
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
Echinopora gemmacea 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 moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. 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 encrusting 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.
Hedgehog Coral (Echinopora gemmacea) Propagation Guide
Overview
Echinopora gemmacea, the hedgehog coral, is a stony coral in the family Merulinidae. Echinopora corals carry distinct, raised, dome-shaped corallites that dot the surface with gaps between each one, and the species grows in encrusting and plating forms. This sheet-like growth over rock, with a fairly porous skeleton, makes the genus straightforward to frag.
Reproductive Mode
In aquaria Echinopora is propagated asexually by cutting the plate. Because the colony spreads as a sheet of skeleton studded with corallites, a keeper can cut off a section bearing several corallites and grow it out into a new colony. The genus is fast-growing, so fragments encrust and expand quickly once attached.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Choose a section of the encrusting plate that carries several raised corallites.
- Cut through the porous skeleton with coral cutters or a band saw; the skeleton divides easily.
- Handle gently, as Echinopora skeleton and tissue can be fragile despite the fast growth.
- Lay the frag flat on the base rock or plug rather than mounting it upright, which encourages it to encrust.
- Place it in medium light and moderate flow to begin encrusting and spreading.
Laying frags down rather than standing them up encourages the encrusting growth that lets Echinopora cover a mount quickly.
Conditions for Propagation
Echinopora is largely photosynthetic and does well under medium light and moderate flow. Stable temperature near 24-26 degrees Celsius, pH 8.1-8.4, and steady alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium feed the fast skeletal growth that drives its encrusting spread.
Common Challenges
Echinopora can be moderately aggressive and may extend tentacles toward neighbors, so frags need room as they expand. The skeleton is described as fairly fragile, so cuts should be deliberate and the coral handled carefully to avoid tissue damage.