Care guide
Spiny cup coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Secure Pectinia by the base in moderate light and indirect flow that clears its folds. Leave generous space from neighboring corals and check how far its sweepers extend after dark.
Wild colonies form irregular folded plates with narrow spires. Related Pectinia can be hard to distinguish by appearance alone.
Requirements
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Allow generous clearance from neighboring livestock
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Moderate light is usually sufficient; excessive intensity can damage a new colony quickly.
- Water flow
- Use moderate indirect flow to clear folds and pockets without battering the tissue.
- Placement
- Choose secure rockwork with room to spread. Keep the folds above loose sand and use indirect flow to limit sediment buildup.
- Clearance
- Leave extra space and check neighboring tissue after dark. Captive Pectinia forms vary in how far their sweepers reach.
- Habitat
- Recorded in turbid water, particularly on horizontal substrates.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; occasional small meaty foods or coral pellets can support growth. Feed lightly.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Aggression toward nearby corals. Sediment trapped in folds. Damage to delicate tissue or ridges during handling.
Information gaps
- pH · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- PAR · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Growth · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Calcium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Handling · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Salinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Warnings · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Adult size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Magnesium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Phosphate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Predation concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Alkalinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Reef compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Acclimation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Minimum tank size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperature · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Feeding frequency · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns · 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
reefwindow.com/care/pectinia-alcicornis
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