TankBud

Ruffled coral

Merulina ampliata

Also known as Ruffled Ridge Coral, Lettuce Coral, Cabbage Coral, Ridge Coral, Merulina

SaltwaterCoral

Ruffled coral (Merulina ampliata)
NPS photo - Eva DiDoinato. Identificada por Charles Birkeland · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
26 gal
100 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Occurs on shallow to mid-depth reefs across the Indo-Pacific, from the Indian Ocean through the western Pacific.

Overview

The ruffled coral is a plating stony coral for a mature, stable reef. It is best left to experienced keepers.

Did you know

The ruffled coral's forking ridges are the reason it is sometimes called the ruffled ridge coral. No two colonies wear quite the same maze pattern.

Caring for the ruffled coral

Plan on a mature reef of at least 26 gal (100 L), with strong light and medium flow. Place the ruffled coral at mid height or higher on the rock. Its thin, contorted plates make it fairly fragile to handle.

It is sensitive to swings in temperature, alkalinity and nutrients, so keep parameters rock steady. Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C), a pH of 8.1 to 8.4 and alkalinity of 8 to 11 dKH. It feeds largely through photosynthesis but benefits from fine plankton.

Give it space, because it extends sweeper tentacles after dark that can sting nearby corals. Once it takes hold in good conditions, it builds outward quickly.

Good to know

Merulina ampliata belongs to the family Merulinidae and is a small polyp stony coral. The genus is named for the maze of meandering ridges, called collines, that run across the colony surface. The pattern of forking ridges separates it from smoother plating corals. Colonies are usually green, cream or brown, with the ridges often a lighter shade than the valleys.

In the wild

The ruffled coral occurs on shallow to mid-depth reefs across the Indo-Pacific, from the Indian Ocean through the western Pacific. It starts as an encrusting crust, then grows into fan-shaped plates. Branching ridges fan out from the center across the plates, giving it a ruffled, leafy look.

Common questions

What size tank does a ruffled coral need?

A ruffled coral needs at least 26 gal (100 L).

What temperature and pH does a ruffled coral need?

A ruffled coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a ruffled coral eat?

A ruffled coral feeds largely through photosynthesis. It also benefits from fine plankton.

How big does a ruffled coral get?

An adult ruffled coral reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Related species