Strawberry shortcake acropora (Acropora microclados) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Acro microclados, Strawberry shortcake acro
Family
Acroporidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the western Pacific; shallow reef 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 microclados forms flat, table-like colonies of short, fine branches packed close together. In the hobby it is best known as the "Strawberry shortcake" acro: a cream to pink body with green polyps. Other forms are tan, pink or purple. Place it high in the rockwork of a mature, stable reef, with space for the colony to spread as a plate. LiveAquaria rates Acropora as difficult, needing high light and strong, intermittent flow; acclimate it slowly to bright light. The pink colour is strongest under bright, blue-leaning 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-element dosing. Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity steady at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and avoid daily alkalinity swings. Growth is moderate to fast under good conditions. Aquacultured frags are the usual way to buy this coral. 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. Fine particulate foods, phytoplankton or zooplankton once or twice a week can support growth, but it does not need target feeding.

Breeding

Frag by snipping a branch tip or a small piece of the plate edge with bone cutters and gluing it to a plug with cyanoacrylate gel. Pieces heal quickly in good water and encrust before growing outwards.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and vulnerable to stings. Keep it at least 15 cm from LPS with sweeper tentacles and away from the outflow of leather corals. Watch for Acropora-eating flatworms and red bugs. Avoid coral-nipping angelfish and butterflyfish.

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

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