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.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
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.
Seriatopora hystrix (Bird's Nest) Propagation Guide
Overview
Seriatopora hystrix is a small-polyp stony (SPS) coral in the family Pocilloporidae. Its colonies form a tangled, bushy clump of fragile, slender, tapering branches with pointed tips, reaching roughly one meter across in the wild. It is a zooxanthellate species that houses symbiotic dinoflagellates in its tissues, so it derives much of its energy from light. These traits make it one of the easier branching SPS corals to multiply in captivity.
Reproductive Mode
In the wild S. hystrix is a brooder. Mature polyps produce both sperm and eggs; sperm are liberated into the sea and drawn into other polyps of the same or different colonies, and the developing larvae are brooded internally. When released, the larvae settle within about 24 hours, which suggests a limited dispersal range. The species can also reproduce asexually by fragmentation and by polyp bail-out.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Aquarists exploit the same fragmentation seen on the reef: detached branch fragments can form new colonies if they settle in a suitable spot. Snap or cut a thin branch from the parent colony, then mount the cutting on a frag plug or rock. Dry off the base of the frag and the plug so the glue holds, add a couple of dabs of cyanoacrylate glue, and secure the piece. Return it to the tank in low flow so the bond can cure.
Conditions for Propagation
Because it is photosynthetic, a frag needs stable reef water, moderate to high light, and good water movement to expel mucus and support polyp extension. Keep the colony healthy before fragging, since cutting from a stressed colony slows recovery. Once attached, the frag encrusts the plug and resumes branching growth.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction through brooding is rarely targeted in home aquaria because the larvae settle quickly and over short distances. Self-fertilization may be an important strategy for this species in nature. Hobby propagation therefore relies almost entirely on fragmentation rather than larval rearing.