Caliendrum Bird's Nest (Seriatopora caliendrum) Care Guide
Seriatopora caliendrum is a bushy SPS coral in the family Pocilloporidae with thicker, blunt-tipped branches than S. hystrix; it is listed as Near Threatened.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Seriatopora caliendrum, the green bird's nest coral, is a small-polyp stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae, described by Ehrenberg in 1834. It forms a bushy clump whose branches are rather thicker and have blunter tips than the related S. hystrix, with corallites arranged in neat rows of mostly hooded, oval openings.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pocilloporidae
- Genus: Seriatopora
- Scientific name: Seriatopora caliendrum
- Authority: Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1834
Habitat
The species is native to East Africa, the Red Sea and the western Indo-Pacific, with the Red Sea as its type locality. It grows from shallow water to about 25 m, favouring reef slopes and especially back-reef slopes.
Symbiosis and feeding
Like other shallow-water pocilloporids it is zooxanthellate, relying on symbiotic algae for most of its energy through photosynthesis. In aquaria lighting drives its growth, supported by amino-acid supplements.
Reef-tank requirements
- Lighting: 150-300 PAR (medium-high)
- Flow: medium-high
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.025-1.026
- Alkalinity (dKH): 7.5-9
- Calcium: 420-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
- Phosphate: below 0.05 ppm
- Nitrate: below 10 ppm
- Minimum tank maturity: about 3 months
Compatibility
It is a passive, reef-safe coral suitable alongside fish and shrimp. Stable chemistry and consistent medium-high flow help maintain colour and prevent tissue recession.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (2014).
Seriatopora caliendrum (Bird's Nest) Propagation Guide
Overview
Seriatopora caliendrum is a small-polyp stony coral of the family Pocilloporidae and a close relative of the more delicate S. hystrix. Like other members of the genus it grows as a bushy clump of slender, tapering branches, though aquarium specimens are often noticeably stouter than hystrix. It is zooxanthellate, housing symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues and relying heavily on light for energy.
Reproductive Mode
Members of Seriatopora are brooders: mature polyps produce both sperm and eggs, sperm are released into the water and drawn into other polyps, and larvae are brooded before release. Released larvae settle quickly and within a short distance, giving a limited dispersal range. The genus also propagates asexually through branch fragmentation and polyp bail-out.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
On the reef, detached branch fragments can establish new colonies wherever they lodge, and this is the basis for captive fragging. Cut a branch from a healthy parent colony with coral cutters for a clean break, then mount it on a frag plug or rock. Dry the base of the cutting and the plug, apply a couple of dabs of cyanoacrylate glue, and press the frag into place before returning it to gentle flow to cure.
Conditions for Propagation
As a photosynthetic SPS, a caliendrum frag needs stable reef chemistry, moderate to high lighting, and brisk water movement that clears mucus and keeps polyps extended. Frags taken from a thriving colony attach and encrust faster; cuttings from stressed colonies recover slowly. Once bonded, the frag resumes the genus's branching growth pattern.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction by brooding is rarely used in home aquaria because the short-lived, fast-settling larvae are hard to capture and rear. Hobbyists therefore multiply caliendrum almost exclusively by fragmentation, which preserves the colour and form of the parent colony.