Orange Montipora capricornis: Propagation Guide
Propagating the orange color morph of Montipora capricornis: cutting plates into chips and gluing to plugs, plus the Montipora-eating nudibranch to watch for.
Overview
The orange Montipora capricornis is a color morph of Montipora capricornis, a plating small-polyp stony coral of the family Acroporidae. The species forms flat, plating colonies that expand by adding to their foundations and spreading outward, and comes in color variations including red, green and orange. Like all M. capricornis it occupies the top half of the reef where photosynthesis can occur.
Reproductive Mode
Montipora reproduces both sexually and asexually. Because the orange coloration is a morph, only asexual fragmentation preserves it; each frag is a clone of the parent. Sexual reproduction follows the broadcast-spawning pattern of the family Acroporidae.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Pick a brightly colored plate with active growth along the rim.
- Cut the plate into chips with a band saw, tile nippers or a cutting tool.
- Glue each chip flat to a plug or rock with cyanoacrylate.
- Return the frags to medium-high light and flow to encrust and resume plating; the morph's color is retained in the clones.
Conditions for Propagation
As an upper-reef species, M. capricornis needs bright light and moderate to strong flow. Stable water with regular calcium and alkalinity dosing helps cut margins heal quickly and keeps the orange coloration strong.
Sexual Reproduction
Within the family Acroporidae, reproduction occurs by broadcast spawning, with colonies releasing gametes into the water column for external fertilisation and larval settlement. Captive spawning is uncommon, so fragmentation is the standard way to multiply this morph.