TankBud

Porkchop coral

Pavona duerdeni

Also known as Porkchop Pavona, Pavona

SaltwaterCoral

Porkchop coral (Pavona duerdeni)
Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPR · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
23.6 in
60 cm
Minimum tank
26 gal
100 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Agariciidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and eastern Pacific, including Hawaii, on wave-exposed reef fronts and slopes

Overview

The porkchop coral is a hardy, slow-growing stony coral that is forgiving once it takes hold. It suits a keeper who wants a solid centerpiece more than fast growth, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

In the wild, the porkchop coral piles into rock-hard mounds of parallel ridges several meters across. Those ridges separate it from the similarly massive Pavona clavus, which grows smoother columns.

Caring for the porkchop coral

Give the porkchop coral moderate to strong light and strong flow, which suit its wave-swept origins. It slowly plates over the rock it is set on. Its heavy encrusting base will overtake anything in its path given years, so leave it room.

Its main need is stability. It sulks under swings in alkalinity or temperature more than it does under most other stress. Hold the water steady at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Feeding is optional, since it lives on its light. It is not aggressive, and in the aquarium it stays far smaller than in the wild. A tank of at least 26 gal (100 L) gives it space.

Good to know

The porkchop coral, Pavona duerdeni, is a massive, zooxanthellate reef builder in the family Agariciidae. It lays down dense skeleton in thick ridges rather than the thin plates of its leafier relatives. Its solid growth form makes it a genuine framework coral on exposed reefs, and its density helps it hold up to strong water movement. It shows up in the trade less often than the leafy Pavona, usually as encrusting frags.

In the wild

The porkchop coral ranges across the Indo-Pacific and into the eastern Pacific, including Hawaii, often on wave-exposed reef fronts and slopes. Its smooth, rounded colonies are pale pink to tan and split into hillocks.

Common questions

What size tank does a porkchop coral need?

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

What temperature and pH does a porkchop coral need?

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

What does a porkchop coral eat?

A porkchop coral lives on its light, so feeding is optional.

How big does a porkchop coral get?

An adult porkchop coral reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).

Related species