Goniopora minor Care Guide
Goniopora minor is a small-polyped flowerpot LPS coral forming hemispherical or encrusting colonies, usually brown or green with pale tentacle tips.
Overview
Goniopora minor is a colonial stony coral of the family Poritidae, described by Crossland in 1952. Like other Goniopora it is a flowerpot coral with daisy-like polyps tipped by 24 tentacles. Colonies are hemispherical or encrusting, with circular calices 2.5-4 mm in diameter and thick walls; usually six thick pali contact one another to form a crown, and the septal structures are heavily granulated. Colour is brown or green, usually with distinctively coloured oral discs and pale tentacle tips. In WoRMS, Goniopora minor Crossland, 1952 is treated as a synonym of Goniopora pedunculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poritidae
- Order: Scleractinia
- Genus: Goniopora
- Scientific name: Goniopora minor
- Authority: Crossland, 1952; WoRMS note: treated as a synonym of Goniopora pedunculata Quoy & Gaimard, 1833
Habitat
The type locality is Low Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. The coral inhabits subtidal reef environments, especially lagoons, and is described as common. Goniopora corals generally favour lagoons and turbid water across the Indo-Pacific.
Reef parameters
- Type: LPS (large-polyp stony) coral, encrusting growth
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Alkalinity (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: 75-175 PAR (medium)
- Flow: low
Feeding
Goniopora minor hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and is an active feeder like the rest of its genus. Spot-feeding with mysis and planktonic foods supports growth, and gentle flow not directed at the polyps allows them to extend fully.
Compatibility
The coral is reef-safe with fish and shrimp but moderately aggressive toward neighbouring corals, so it needs open space around the colony. A reasonably mature tank of about six months or older suits it best.