Montipora digitata Care Guide

Montipora digitata is a fast-growing, beginner-friendly Indo-Pacific SPS coral with branching finger-like colonies in green, purple or orange.

Overview

Montipora digitata is a small-polyp stony (SPS) coral in the family Acroporidae, native to shallow waters of the Indo-West Pacific. Colonies are digitate or bushy, formed of vertically aligned finger-like branches that can exceed 40 cm across. The species is regarded as one of the hardiest entry-level SPS corals and is listed by the IUCN as Endangered.

Taxonomy

Family: Acroporidae
Genus: Montipora
Scientific name: Montipora digitata
Common names: Montipora Digitata, Finger Monti, Digi
Growth form: branching / digitate

Habitat

Inhabits shallow Indo-West Pacific reefs across East Africa, Kenya, Mozambique and the Pacific to Rodriguez, where it forms mounds on reef flats and lagoon margins. It is a zooxanthellate species and a simultaneous hermaphrodite, releasing egg-sperm packets in synchronized annual spawning events.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank maturity: 3 months
Temperature: 24-26 C (75-79 F)
Salinity: 1.025-1.026 SG
pH: 8.1-8.4
Alkalinity: 7.5-9 dKH
Calcium: 420-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
Phosphate max: 0.05 ppm
Nitrate max: 10 ppm
Lighting: 150-250 PAR (medium-high)
Flow: medium-high and turbulent

Placement

Place in the mid-to-upper reef where lighting reaches 150-250 PAR and water movement is turbulent. The colony does not sting neighbouring corals but grows quickly (up to 1.5 cm per month per branch under good conditions), so leave room for expansion.

Feeding

Almost entirely photosynthetic: symbiotic zooxanthellae can supply up to roughly 90% of the coral's energy demands. Direct prey capture is minor; periodic dosing of amino acids supports tissue density and coloration. Spot feeding is not generally required.