Pectinia Lactuca Care Guide
Pectinia Lactuca (Pectinia lactuca) is a LPS coral. Care covers 50-150 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pectinia Lactuca (Pectinia lactuca) is a LPS coral in the family Merulinidae. Foliose Pectinia with broader, less spiky lobes. Classic pale green or brown coloration.
Taxonomy
- Family: Merulinidae
- Genus: Pectinia
- Scientific name: Pectinia lactuca
- Common synonyms: Lettuce Coral Lactuca
Habitat
In the wild, Pectinia lactuca is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a foliose growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 50-150 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Pectinia lactuca hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Additional feeding is generally not required when lighting is adequate.
Compatibility
This coral is moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.2-0.4 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for foliose colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Pectinia lactuca Propagation Guide
Overview
Pectinia lactuca is a foliose large-polyp stony coral in the family Merulinidae, distinguished from P. paeonia by its broader, less spiky lobes. As with the rest of the genus, it grows as thin radiating plates of skeleton, and that architecture governs how it is fragged.
Reproductive Mode
These corals reproduce sexually through spawning and asexually through fragmentation. Aquarium propagation of P. lactuca is carried out by fragmenting the foliose colony.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Like other Pectinia, the colony holds fluid-filled flesh suspended between parallel skeletal blades that radiate from a central point. Cuts are made parallel with or perpendicular to those blades so they stay in groups and continue to support the tissue. A band saw cooled by iodine-tinted saltwater disinfects each cut and raises survival, and every fragment should retain a mouth.
- Map cuts so each fragment includes a mouth.
- Cut along or across the radiating blades to keep them grouped.
- Use iodine-tinted saltwater as coolant to disinfect the cuts.
- Finish with an iodine dip to prevent infection while frags heal.
Conditions for Propagation
P. lactuca favours low to medium light and gentle flow. Frags recover best in those conditions with stable, clean water that lets the cut edges close.
Common Challenges
The thin skeleton is fragile and the cut margins can be invaded by bacteria as they heal. Disinfected cuts and a finishing dip, plus low-stress placement, give frags the best chance to recover.