Spiny cup coral
Species guidance Revision 1AI-assisted · Model audited
Full care details
Wild colonies form irregular folded plates with narrow spires. Related Pectinia can be hard to distinguish by appearance alone.
- Acclimation
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Adult size
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Alkalinity
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Calcium
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Clearance
- Allow extra space and check neighboring tissue after dark. The farm reports longer sweepers in some captive Pectinia strains.
- Compatibility
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; occasional small meaty foods or coral pellets can support growth. Feed lightly.
- Feeding frequency
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Water flow
- Use moderate indirect flow to clear folds and pockets without battering the tissue.
- Growth
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Habitat
- Recorded in turbid water, particularly on horizontal substrates.
- Handling
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lighting
- Moderate light is usually sufficient; excessive intensity can damage a new colony quickly.
- Magnesium
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Minimum tank size
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- PAR
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- pH
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Phosphate
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Placement
- Choose secure rockwork with room to spread. Keep the folds above loose sand and use indirect flow to limit sediment buildup.
- Predation concerns
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Reef compatibility
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Salinity
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperament
- Allow generous clearance from neighboring livestock
- Temperature
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Warning signs
- Aggression toward nearby corals. Sediment trapped in folds. Damage to delicate tissue or ridges during handling.
- Warnings
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
Sources
- World Register of Marine Species — Pectinia alcicornis · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Pectinia · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Corals of the World — Pectinia alcicornis · Species factsheet, Characters and Habitat · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Pectinia Coral Care · Lighting, Water Flow, Placement and Aggression · Retrieved 2026-11-10