Gemmifera acropora (Acropora gemmifera) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Acro gemmifera, Gemmifera acro
Family
Acroporidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific; shallow, wave-exposed reef flats and upper slopes
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
expert
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
High; about PAR 300–450, acclimated gradually
Flow
Strong, turbulent and alternating

Care

Acropora gemmifera grows as compact, thick-branched (digitate) colonies with tapering fingers. Radial corallites of different sizes line the branches in neat rows, giving them a knobbly look. Colours include cream, green, purple, blue and multicoloured forms, often with contrasting branch tips. It comes from shallow, high-energy water, so place it high in the rockwork with bright light and strong, alternating flow. LiveAquaria rates Acropora as difficult and recommends acclimating them slowly to very strong light. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.0–8.4, specific gravity 1.023–1.025 and 22–26 °C, with calcium, magnesium, strontium and trace elements. Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity steady at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and avoid daily alkalinity swings. It is one of the sturdier Acropora once settled. Growth is steady rather than explosive. Aquacultured colonies are available and are better than wild-collected pieces. 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/assorted-acropora-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic: zooxanthellae supply most of its energy. Occasional fine foods such as phytoplankton, zooplankton or SPS powders can help, but target feeding is not needed.

Breeding

Snip a branch with bone cutters, glue it to a plug or rock with cyanoacrylate gel and keep it in strong light and flow. The thick branches make strong frags that heal quickly.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful. Keep it at least 15 cm from LPS with sweeper tentacles and away from leather corals. Dip new colonies for Acropora-eating flatworms and red bugs. Coral-nipping angelfish and butterflyfish are a risk.

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

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