Elephant Skin Coral (Mycedium elephantotus): Propagation Guide

Propagating the plating chalice Mycedium elephantotus by sawing plate sections with outward-facing corallites, plus notes on its placement and aggression.

Overview

Mycedium elephantotus is a chalice coral that grows into fan-like plates or encrusting colonies, plating much like a Montipora cap and, with time, curling upward at the edges to begin cupping. It is recognised by inclined, nose-shaped corallites that always point toward the outside of the colony, with a central oral disk slightly larger than the outward-facing corallites. It is found in protected reef habitats away from strong current, often in caves or on rock walls.

Reproductive Mode

Mycedium is a colonial large-polyp stony coral that carries symbiotic zooxanthellae. As with chalice corals generally, sexual reproduction is by gamete release, while aquarium propagation is asexual division of the plate. The outward-pointing corallites and central mouth define which sections of plate can be cut into viable frags.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Plating chalices are fragged by cutting sections of the plate, ensuring at least one eye (corallite) per frag and avoiding cutting through an eye, and making sure each frag has a mouth to feed. After cutting, an iodine dip is advised because the exposed edges are prone to bacterial infection; frags are then glued to plugs to heal.

Conditions for Propagation

Chalices do best under lower-moderate lighting, around 100 PAR, with moderate to lower flow that still keeps debris from settling on the tissue. Stable parameters near reef values support recovery as the frag encrusts and resumes plating.

Common Challenges

The main challenges are bacterial infection of cut edges, addressed by the iodine dip, and stinging interactions with neighbors as the frag grows. Debris allowed to settle on the plate under weak flow can also trigger tissue recession during healing.