Merlet's blastomussa (Blastomussa merleti) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Blasto, Small-polyp blastomussa, Pineapple coral
Family
Mussidae (as listed by LiveAquaria; its placement has since been revised)
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean to the western Pacific
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Low to moderate
Flow
Low to moderate

Care

Blastomussa merleti is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral that grows as clumps of small, separate tubular corallites, each holding one fleshy polyp about 1 cm across. The polyps are smaller and more numerous than those of Blastomussa wellsi. Colours are red, pink, green or bicoloured. Place it low in the tank in low to moderate light and gentle flow. LiveAquaria lists its relative B. wellsi as moderate in care, with moderate light, low flow and bottom placement, in an established reef. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.0–8.4, specific gravity 1.021–1.025 and 22–26 °C, with calcium, magnesium, strontium and trace elements. Growth is slow to moderate. Note: LiveAquaria covers only B. wellsi, so these figures come from that relative, not from a source on this species. 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/blastomussa-coral-indonesia-3-5-wysiwyg). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic. It does not need feeding but will take zooplankton or fine meaty foods, which can speed growth.

Breeding

Easy to frag: cut between corallites with bone cutters and glue each piece (one or a few polyps) to a plug with cyanoacrylate gel. New polyps bud from the base over time.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful, with no long sweeper tentacles, so it can sit near other peaceful corals. Keep it away from aggressive LPS that could sting it.

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

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