The Bleeding Apple Coral (Acanthophyllia deshayesiana) is a captivating large polyp stony (LPS) coral belonging to the Mussidae family. Known for its fleshy, rounded appearance and vivid colouration, this coral makes a striking centrepiece in mature reef aquariums.
Care Level: Moderate to advanced. This coral requires stable water parameters and attentive husbandry.
Lighting: Moderate lighting is preferred, such as LED or T5 fixtures providing a PAR range of approximately 50-150. Avoid intense direct light to prevent bleaching.
Water Flow: Low to moderate water flow is ideal to gently remove detritus without damaging the delicate tissue.
Placement: Position on the substrate or lower rockwork with ample space around it to prevent aggression or damage from neighbouring corals. This species can extend sweeper tentacles, so maintain at least 10-15cm clearance.
Diet: Primarily photosynthetic via symbiotic zooxanthellae but benefits from supplemental feeding of meaty foods such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or specialised coral foods 1-2 times per week.
Compatibility: Reef safe with caution. Suitable for reef tanks with non-aggressive tankmates and adequate spacing from other corals to avoid stinging interactions.
Origin: Not Provided.
Maximum Size: Can reach up to 30cm in diameter under optimal conditions.
Minimum Tank Size: Recommended minimum 100 litres to provide stable water quality and space.
Regular monitoring of water parameters such as calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium is essential to support skeletal growth. Maintain stable temperature (24-26°C), salinity (1.023-1.025), and low nutrient levels for best results.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.