War Coral (Leptastrea purpurea): Propagation Guide

Propagating the hardy encrusting Leptastrea purpurea war coral by fragging the crust, plus its unusual daily larval brooding biology.

Overview

Leptastrea purpurea is a brooding faviid coral common in the waters of Guam, where it can be found in shallow water and easily collected. It is one of the most widespread Leptastrea species, ranging from East Africa across the Coral Triangle to the central Pacific, growing as an encrusting form with crater-like corallites that give rise to the popular bicolor war-coral morphs.

Reproductive Mode

Unlike broadcast-spawning corals, Leptastrea purpurea is a brooder that releases planula larvae directly from the polyps. A studied population in Guam releases larvae on a daily basis, which is unusual among brooding corals and has made the species a useful model organism for larval research. In aquaria, however, asexual fragging is the standard route.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

As an encrusting coral, Leptastrea is propagated by cutting the crust into pieces, each retaining several intact crater-like corallites and live tissue, or by snapping off rock the crust has grown over. Frags are dipped, glued to plugs or rubble, and placed where the crust can resume spreading. Its fast encrusting growth makes it a forgiving species to frag.

Sexual Reproduction

Larval settlement in Leptastrea purpurea is induced by chemical cues; research found dopamine, glutamic acid, and epinephrine significantly triggered settlement, with dopamine the strongest. While this brooding biology supports lab larval rearing, hobbyists rely on division rather than sexual propagation.

Common Challenges

Leptastrea is hardy, so the main risks are mechanical: a ragged cut or detritus settling on the flat crust during healing. Adequate flow over the new frag and a coral dip after cutting keep the exposed margin clean while it re-encrusts.