War Coral Colony
Acanthastrea lordhowensis
Multi-colored acan colony bursting with red, green and blue eyes packed tightly together. A dazzling centerpiece for any LPS tank.
- Lighting
- Low
- Flow
- Low
- Placement
- Lower rockwork
- Temperament
- Peaceful
Out of stock — check back soon or join the restock list.
Care guide
Keeping Acanthastrea in a reef tank
Sold as war coral, this is the same animal now formally described as Micromussa lordhowensis — the older Acanthastrea name persists throughout the trade. It is a fleshy, brilliantly patterned LPS that grows by adding mouths at the colony edge, and its dense pigment banding is what gives the 'war' morphs their value.
Lighting for War Coral Colony
Low to moderate light. Like most fleshy LPS the pigment is richest below the intensity that would suit a stony branching coral, and excess light flattens the contrast between the mouth and the surrounding tissue. This particular frag is rated for low light — roughly 50–100 PAR, on the sand bed or under an overhang.
Water flow
Low, gentle flow lets the polyps inflate. Enough movement to keep detritus from settling in the corallite valleys is sufficient — anything stronger and the coral stays visibly deflated. Flow for this frag should be gentle and indirect.
Placement and tank mates
Lower rockwork. Peaceful.
What to watch for
This genus is aggressive for an LPS and will sting neighbours it can reach. It also feeds readily enough that uneaten food can accumulate in the tissue folds, so remove anything not taken within a few minutes.
