Ruffled coral
Merulina ampliata
Also known as Ruffled Ridge Coral, Lettuce Coral, Cabbage Coral, Ridge Coral, Merulina
SaltwaterCoral
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
- 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
Plan on a mature 100 liter or larger reef with strong light and medium flow, placing it at mid height or higher on the rock. It is sensitive to swings in temperature, alkalinity, and nutrients, so keep parameters rock steady at 24 to 27 C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and alkalinity 8 to 11 dKH, which makes it a coral for experienced keepers. 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.
In the wild
Starts as an encrusting crust and then grows into fan-shaped plates crossed by branching ridges that fan out from the center, giving it a ruffled, leafy look. Colonies are usually green, cream, or brown, with the ridges often a lighter shade than the valleys. The pattern of forking ridges separates it from smoother plating corals. It builds outward quickly once it takes hold in good conditions.
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. Its skeleton grows as thin contorted plates that make it fairly fragile to handle.
Did you know
The forking ridges on its surface are the reason it is sometimes called the ruffled ridge coral, and no two colonies wear quite the same maze pattern.
Common questions
What size tank does a Ruffled coral need?
A Ruffled coral needs at least 26 gal (100 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
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.
How big does a Ruffled coral get?
An adult Ruffled coral reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
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