Superman montipora (Montipora danae) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Superman monti, Montipora danae (Superman)
Family
Acroporidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific; shallow reefs
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate to high; roughly PAR 150–300 (general hobby guidance)
Flow
Moderate to strong, varied

Care

An encrusting to plating Montipora covered in small bumps (papillae). The best-known hobby form is the "Superman" montipora, a purple to blue colony with red or orange polyps; other colour forms exist. Placement: middle to upper rockwork, where it can encrust and later form plates. LiveAquaria lists encrusting Montipora as suited to any level provided the light is adequate. Light and flow: moderate to high light and medium to strong flow; deeper colour usually comes with stronger light. Water: hardier than Acropora but still a stony coral that needs stable water. Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and keep them steady; regular dosing of calcium, alkalinity and trace elements (or a calcium reactor in a busy reef) is needed as the coral grows. Growth: LiveAquaria describes encrusting Montipora as relatively fast growing and spreading across rockwork under good conditions. LiveAquaria does not list this species; the care figures are from its encrusting Montipora (M. nodosa) page, a close relative. 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/smooth-encrusting-montipora-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic (zooxanthellae) for most of its energy. LiveAquaria suggests weekly micro-plankton or foods for filter-feeding invertebrates as a supplement.

Breeding

Easy to frag: snap or cut pieces from the edge of the colony with bone cutters or a saw and glue them to plugs with cyanoacrylate gel. Frags encrust onto the plug and then out onto rock, and are widely traded as captive-grown pieces.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and safe near other peaceful corals with similar needs. It can be stung by LPS sweepers and harmed by leather-coral chemicals, so give it some room. Watch for Montipora-eating nudibranchs (small white sea slugs with egg spirals on the underside); dip new frags.

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

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