Seriatopora caliendrum (Bird's Nest) Propagation Guide

Propagating Seriatopora caliendrum, a thicker-branched bird's nest SPS, by cutting and gluing branch fragments, plus the genus's brooding reproduction and frag-care basics.

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.