TankBud

Ruffled disc coral

Turbinaria mesenterina

Also known as Ruffled Cup Coral, Disc Coral, Turbinaria Disc, Ruffled Scroll Coral, Pagoda Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Ruffled disc coral (Turbinaria mesenterina)
Ahmed Abdul Rahman for MDC Seamarc Maldives · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Dendrophylliidae
Origin
Grows on turbid inshore Indo-Pacific reefs, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean through the western Pacific.

Overview

The ruffled disc coral is a plating stony coral whose sheets fold back on themselves like frilled discs. It suits a reef tank and a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

The ruffled disc coral's deeply folded plates trap a lot of detritus. Good flow matters less for feeding it than for keeping the ruffles from smothering themselves.

Caring for the ruffled disc coral

Give the ruffled disc coral bright light and moderate to strong flow. Keep it in a reef tank of at least 40 gal (150 L).

Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, and keep alkalinity and calcium stable. The heavily convoluted plating forms are a little more demanding than the open cup types, so aim for steady water and good flow.

It relies on zooxanthellae for most of its energy and feeds mainly by photosynthesis. It also accepts fine plankton. The ruffled disc coral is peaceful toward its neighbors.

Good to know

Turbinaria mesenterina is a small polyp coral in the family Dendrophylliidae, with some of the most convoluted plate growth in its genus. It is usually green, yellow-green or brown, with very small, low polyps under 1 mm tall. The convoluted plates trap water and give the colony a busy, wavy surface.

In the wild

The ruffled disc coral grows on turbid inshore reefs across the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and Indian Ocean through the western Pacific. It comes from silty water and is built to shed sediment. Its tiny polyps and folded skeleton help it survive in murky, sediment-heavy lagoons.

Common questions

What size tank does a ruffled disc coral need?

A ruffled disc coral needs at least 40 gal (150 L).

What temperature and pH does a ruffled disc coral need?

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

What does a ruffled disc coral eat?

A ruffled disc coral feeds mainly by photosynthesis, through the zooxanthellae that supply most of its energy. It also accepts fine plankton.

How big does a ruffled disc coral get?

An adult ruffled disc coral reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Related species