Pavona decussata is a stony coral that grows as upright, intersecting leaf-like plates covered in small, star-shaped polyps, which is why it is sold as cactus, leaf or lettuce coral. It is usually tan, brown or green and is regarded in the hobby as a fairly hardy small-polyp stony coral. Neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species; the figures are general guidance for the genus, not from a source. Placement: middle of the rockwork in moderate to high light and moderate flow. Plates grow upwards and outwards, so leave space around it. Water: typical reef parameters (about 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12), with calcium, alkalinity and magnesium kept stable by regular dosing. Growth is moderate. 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: general reef-keeping guidance only; neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists it. Checked October 2026.
Diet
Photosynthetic: zooxanthellae provide most of its food. Fine coral foods or zooplankton can be broadcast occasionally.
Breeding
Frag by cutting or snapping off a plate edge with bone cutters and gluing it to a plug with gel superglue or epoxy.
Compatibility and tank mates
Generally peaceful. Keep it out of reach of LPS sweeper tentacles. Angelfish and butterflyfish may pick at it.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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