Ruffled ridge coral (Merulina ampliata) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Merulina, Cabbage coral
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific; LiveAquaria says it commonly lives in lagoons and other sheltered parts of the reef
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
expert
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
High (LiveAquaria)
Flow
Moderate

Care

Merulina ampliata starts as an encrusting coral and then grows fan-like plates, with more plates forming in the centre so the colony looks ruffled, like cabbage or lettuce. The skeleton can show through the tissue. LiveAquaria sells blue, green, purple and red forms. Place it in the middle to upper rockwork under high light with medium flow. LiveAquaria rates it difficult. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4 and 22–26 °C, with calcium and trace elements (it also mentions strontium). Keep magnesium around 1,300 ppm. 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: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/merulina-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic. LiveAquaria recommends micro-plankton or brine shrimp twice a week.

Breeding

Can be fragged by cutting a section of plate with bone cutters or a saw and gluing it to a plug. LiveAquaria sells aquacultured pieces.

Compatibility and tank mates

LiveAquaria lists it as aggressive; its sweeper tentacles reach about 7–8 cm, so keep other corals out of that range.

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

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