Acan echinata (Acanthastrea echinata) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Starry cup coral, Acan, Acan brain coral
Family
Lobophylliidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, mostly in shallow sheltered water such as lagoons, down to about 20 m
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Low to moderate
Flow
Low to moderate

Care

Acanthastrea echinata is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral with big, fleshy corallites (about 8–15 mm across) that have small teeth on the walls. Colonies are often red, orange or green, sometimes with contrasting centres. Wild colonies can grow several metres across. Placement: lower to middle rockwork, in low to moderate flow. Light and flow: it tolerates low to moderate light and gentle to moderate currents. Water and supplements: calcium, alkalinity and magnesium kept stable, with strontium and trace elements. It does best in an established, stable reef tank. Growth: hardy and quite fast-growing for an LPS, especially when fed. Naming: LiveAquaria lists it in Mussidae, its older family; it is now placed in Lobophylliidae. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/acan-brain-coral-3-wysiwyg-1). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but it feeds heavily at night. Target-feed minced meaty foods and zooplankton once polyps and feeding tentacles are out; regular feeding gives the best growth and faster recovery after fragging. A good protein skimmer helps cope with the extra food.

Breeding

A good coral to frag at home because the corallites are distinct: cut between polyps with a saw or bone cutters, keeping each frag to one or more whole polyps, and glue to a plug. Fed frags recover quickly.

Compatibility and tank mates

It pushes out digestive (mesenterial) filaments that can kill neighbouring corals, so leave a few centimetres of clear space around it and between colonies.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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