Great star coral
Montastraea cavernosa
Also known as Cavernosa, Great Star, Greater Star Coral, Caribbean Star Coral
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F
- 23–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Montastraeidae
- Origin
- Native to Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs, from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean to Brazil.
Overview
Because it grows large and slow, give it a 200 liter or larger reef with moderate light and moderate flow, mounted low where it has room to spread. Standard reef chemistry suits it, with temperature 23 to 27 C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and stable alkalinity and calcium. Feed it at night with mysis or small meaty foods when the polyps and tentacles extend. It defends its space with sweeper tentacles that reach out after dark, so leave a clear buffer around the colony.
In the wild
A stony coral that builds heavy domes and boulders studded with round corallites the size of a thumb tip, each one a raised bump across the surface. By day it looks like a bumpy green, brown, red, or orange mound, and at night each polyp opens into a ring of tentacles that gives it a starry look. Wild colonies can grow into massive boulders several feet across. Green and orange fluorescent forms are the ones usually seen in the hobby.
Good to know
Montastraea cavernosa is the only species in the family Montastraeidae, making the genus effectively monotypic in current classification. It is a major Caribbean reef builder and a favorite subject in coral research on bleaching and fluorescence. The coral hosts zooxanthellae but feeds actively at night, extending polyps and sweeper tentacles.
Did you know
It carries some of the longest sweeper tentacles of any Caribbean coral, extending them at night to digest and clear away rivals that grow too close.
Common questions
What size tank does a Great star coral need?
A Great star coral needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Great star coral need?
A Great star coral is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Great star coral get?
An adult Great star coral reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
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