Pavona Coral Care Guide
Pavona cactus is a small-polyp stony coral that grows in thin, upright fronds resembling lettuce leaves, found in turbid but calm Indo-Pacific waters.
Overview
Pavona cactus is a small-polyp stony (SPS) coral also known as cactus coral, potato chip coral or leaf coral. Colonies form vertical, irregular, two-sided fronds about 5 cm tall and no more than 5 mm thick, and these fronds may build supercolonies extending several metres across the seabed. The colour is olive green or brownish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Agariciidae
- Genus: Pavona
- Scientific name: Pavona cactus
- Common names: cactus coral, lettuce coral
Habitat
The species ranges from the Red Sea and the East African coast to Japan, Tahiti and Australia in tropical Indo-Pacific waters. It is found in turbid but calm waters, on upper reef slopes and in shallow lagoons, down to about 40 m.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
- Carbonate hardness: 8-12 dKH
- Lighting: moderate to high
- Water flow: moderate to high
Diet
The polyps extend their tentacles at night to catch plankton, and the coral obtains additional nutrients from the symbiotic zooxanthellae living in its tissues.
Reef compatibility
It is a peaceful coral that reproduces sexually through planula larvae and asexually through budding and fragmentation. It can encrust onto rockwork before sending up vertical plates.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. Threats include bleaching from rising temperatures, habitat degradation, ocean acidification and collection for the aquarium trade.