Propagating Montipora confusa

A propagation guide for Montipora confusa, an encrusting coral of the family Acroporidae, covering chip cutting from the crust, spawning biology, and the Phestilla nudibranch pest.

Overview

Montipora confusa belongs to the genus Montipora in the family Acroporidae, a small polyp stony coral group. According to Wikipedia, growth morphologies within the genus include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching forms, and a single colony may display more than one. In the aquarium trade M. confusa is grown chiefly as an encrusting-to-plating coral.

Reproductive Mode

Montipora corals are hermaphroditic broadcast spawners, with spawning typically occurring in spring. Their eggs already contain zooxanthellae, so the symbionts are transmitted vertically to the larvae rather than taken up from the water. In closed systems, encrusting species like M. confusa are multiplied by cutting fragments from the living crust.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

An encrusting Montipora is fragged by slicing a chip off the crust together with a piece of the underlying rock or by cutting a bordering plate margin. Each chip is then glued to a plug under medium-high light and flow, where the tissue resumes encrusting outward over the new substrate. Encrusting Montipora are generally regarded as forgiving and quick to heal compared with branching Acropora.

1. Cut a chip from the crust including some underlying rock.
2. Glue the chip to a plug, living tissue facing up.
3. Place under medium-high light and moderate to strong flow.
4. Let the tissue encrust over the plug before relocating.

Common Challenges

The Montipora-eating nudibranch is the principal threat to fragged colonies. An undescribed Phestilla species is reported to feed on the genus, and the described pest Phestilla subodiosus preys specifically on Montipora. On encrusting colonies the eggs can hide in the textured surface, so newly cut chips should always be inspected.