Bird's Nest Coral (Seriatopora hystrix) Care Guide
Seriatopora hystrix is a thin-branched Indo-Pacific SPS coral that forms tangled bushy colonies and hosts zooxanthellae; it is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Overview
Seriatopora hystrix, the bird's nest coral, is a small-polyp stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae, described by Dana in 1846. Colonies form a tangled, bushy clump of fragile, slender, tapering branches up to roughly a meter across; specimens occur in cream, pink, yellow, brown and blue. It hosts zooxanthellae for energy.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pocilloporidae
- Genus: Seriatopora
- Scientific name: Seriatopora hystrix
- Authority: Dana, 1846
Habitat
The species ranges from East Africa, Madagascar and the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean to tropical Australia, Japan, the South China Sea and the West and Central Pacific island groups. It mostly occurs at depths of 3 to 15 m on reefs, reef flats, fore-reef slopes and sheltered lagoons.
Symbiosis and feeding
It is a zooxanthellate species housing symbiotic dinoflagellates, with different Symbiodinium associating with the coral across its geographic range. In aquaria it relies mainly on light, supported by amino-acid dosing.
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 compatible with fish and shrimp. Its fragile branches need stable chemistry and steady flow; sudden parameter swings can trigger tissue recession on the thin twigs.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. As of 2005 around 15,000 pieces were exported annually for the reef aquarium trade.