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Low light and gentle water movement is all you need, to make this shiny Bubble Coral happy! If only all corals were this easy!
The Plerogyra genus is quite content with low lighting and gentle currents.
They will actually inflate or deflate their water filled vesicles (bubbles) depending on the light available.
This coral is very desirable in all of it’s colors since it is easy to care for and not too overpriced.
The Plerogyra genus comes in branching varieties also, and the bubbles can have little tips on the end, thus the “Octobubble Coral” name for some morphs.
Being careful to not damage the tissue and feeding regularly are the other 2 ingredients needed for success.
Common Name(s): PLEROGYRA GENUS
(featuring: BUBBLE CORAL)
Scientific Name:
CARYOPHYLLIIDAE: (Plerogyra sp.)
(featuring: Plerogyra sinuosa)
Distribution:
The Plerogyra genus is found in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and the west Pacific Ocean from the East China Sea all the way to the west, north, and east coasts of Australia, then east toward the Line Islands. they are found in gentle water movement in lower reef slopes. They seem to have no real light preference and can be found in low light in areas that have almost total shade like protected caves and under overhangs. They grow in a vertical position in shady areas and horizontally in shallower brighter waters, yet all habitats have turbid waters.
Status:
The Plerogyra genus is not on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
Overview, History and Species Variations:
The Plerogyra genus was described by Edwards & Haime in 1848. P. sinuosa was described by Dana in 1846. There are 4 recognizable species such as P. discus, P. simples, P. sinuosa, and P. turbida. A few others are “on the books” but little to no information is found on them. These are P. cauliformis, P. diabolotus, P. eyrysepta, and P. multiobata. Although many have used the term P. flexuosa is not a valid species and it is not in the catalog or Plerogyra species. Names these corals are known for are Grape Coral, Octobubble Coral, Bladder Coral, Pearl Coral, and Branching Bubble Coral.
Species Description:
The Plerogyra genus, whether branching or not has a typical lightweight skeletal structure that is easy to cut or sever. The coral’s 1/2” to 1” (1 - 2.5 cm) polyp bubbles are oval and water filled, with a higher density of zooxanthellae than most symbiotic corals that have been studied to date. The bubbles will expand or contract as needed for acquiring more or less light. At night, they deflate and 3-4” (7.5 to 10 cm) feeder tentacles, which CAN sting, emerge looking for food. The small short tentacles seen with the bubbles during the day do not sting. The coral comes in shades of bluish green to green, cream and tan with lighter striations on the surface, but will turn brown if the light is too high. There are usually pieces of sharp, delicate, thin “bone” called septa in-between the bubbles. The tissue of the Plerogyra genus will actually connect and encrust onto nearby substrate.
P. discus looks almost identical to the Fox Coral (Nemenzophyllia turbida) except each puffy polyp is connected to a separate branch, with the same flowery look.
P. simplex (Branching Bubble Coral) has a similar look as P. sinuosa, except it has individual branches. These little groupings barely touch each other and are separated with quite a bit of space within the colony.
P. sinuosa (Bubble Coral) comes in one colony with large water filled “bubbles” in a display that is easily recognizable. The “octobubble” term comes from the bubbles on some morphs being “nippled” at the tip.
Some colonies can reach 3 feet (1 m) in the wild, but most are smaller, only getting to around 7.5” (19 cm). Lifespan is unknown.
Sexing - Sexual Differences: UNKNOWN
Maintenance difficulty/Care Level: The Plerogyra genus can be easy to care for. With only gentle water movement and low to moderate light, this is an easy LPS with few demands. When choosing your new charge, make sure the LFS employee gently shakes the coral until most of the bubbles deflate and recede, since removing it to air while inflated will cause tears in the flesh, leading to infection. Even if the coral is left submerged, the septa can cut into the bubbles against the bag it is being put into. So again, request a little shake, rattle and roll for your coral's benefit...... after all, YOU are paying for it! Also, make sure there is no algae on the visible septa once it is visible.
Foods/Feeding:
Diet/Nutrition including: Feed when the feeder tentacles are out in the evening with mysis, rotifers, enriched brine shrimp, Cyclopeeze and other similar sized meaty foods. Try to not feed large pieces since it makes it difficult for the animal to digest such foods and often results in them regurgitating late at night, thus not benefitting from the feeding. This practice will lead to eventual starvation.
Maintenance (Aquarium):
Typical water changes of 20% a month, 10% biweekly or 5% weekly. It has been noted that 5% weekly water changes replenish many of the needed additives and it is ultimately cheaper than purchasing and adding to the top off water. With higher concentrations of coral with calcareous skeletons, though, there may be a need put in additional additives to maintain proper levels for good growth.
CALCIUM: 380 to 430 ppm. (Seachem makes a calcium additive that states 385 as sufficient)
ALKALINITY: 3.5 TO 4.8 MEQ/L (8 to 11 dKh) (10 is recommended)
PHOSPHATES: 0, zero, zilch, noda, zip! Phosphates are the worst of all and all corals hate them!
MAGNESIUM: 1200 - 1350 (magnesium makes Calcium available, so if your calcium is low, check your magnesium levels before adding any more calcium.
STRONTIUM: 8 - 10
Tank Parameters: Do not put under bright lighting.
Habitat: Typical reef conditions with live rock
~Minimum Tank Size/Length: 50 gallons (190 L) or larger
~Light: Recommended light levels: Low or shaded Moderate light
~
Temperature: 74 - 83F ( 23 - 28C)
~
Salinity 1.023 - 1.025
Water Movement: LOW and TURBID
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
BOTTOM Compatibility: The Plerogyra genus will sting others of it’s family of Caryophylliidae and should be positioned away from other corals.
Social Behaviors: The Plerogyra genus does not like hermit crabs irritating it’s flesh and needs to be at least 6” away from other corals since it sends out sweeper tentacles at night.
Breeding/Propagation: The tissue of the Plerogyra genus will actually connect and encrust onto nearby substrate. At times, this results in a new “bud” and will start to form a new colony.
Propagation should only be attempted on branching varieties. Simply cut 2” or more from the head to avoid damage from the skeleton splintering due to it’s corrugated nature.
Ailments and treatments: The Plerogyra genus is susceptible to a few maladies.
- 1. Brown jelly or protozoan infections can infect the rest of the colony if not treated. This brown jelly looks exactly like it sounds, and can be caused by poor water quality and/or tissue damage. To treat, remove the coral to a container with water from the main display, then brush or siphon off any visible brown jelly. Give the coral a freshwater dip in the SAME PH and temperature for several minutes to kill a lot of the microorganisms. Use an antibiotic paste on the infect areas and/or a Lugol’s dip. Try to treat the coral with the least stressful method first. Place in a quarantine tank until coral recovers.
- 2. Flatworms are another affliction that can be treated by a simple freshwater dip with the above parameters
- 3. If algae starts to grow on it’s septa, gently scrub it away, since the coral will not be able to recover on it’s own. An electric rotary tool can be used on particularly stubborn algae.
- 4. Tissue damage and shock will occur if placed under direct Metal Halides or other bright lights.
Availability: The Plerogyra genus is very easy to find at pet shops and on line. The cost for online stores is around $39.99 or more depending on size and/or color. (liveaquaria.com)
Glossary Terms:
Book References
AQUARIUM
CORALS
Selection,
Husbandry, and Natural History
by
Eric H. Borneman
Copyright
© 2001 by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
BOOK
OF CORAL PROPAGATION
Reef
Gardening for Aquarists
Volume
1, Second Edition
by
Anthony Calfo
Copyright
© 2007 by Reading Trees Publication
CORALS of
Australia and the Indo-Pacific
by
J.E.N. Veron
Originally
Published by North Ryde, NSW, Australia:
Angus
& Robertson, 1986
Copyright
1986 The Australian Institute of Marine Science
MARINE
INVERTEBRATES
500
+ ESSENTIAL-TO-KNOW AQUARIUM SPECIES
by
Ronald L. Shimek, Ph.D.
Copyright
2004 by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
WEB SITES:
SALTCORNER.COM
Bubble
/ Bladder Coral
Plerogyra
sinuosa (Dana, 1846)
by
Bob Goemans
URL: http://www.saltcorner.com/1024/index1024.htm
ADVANCED
AQUARIST’S
ONLINE
MAGAZINE
DO
YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CORALS ARE COMING FROM?
ECOLOGICAL
INFORMATION FOR AQUARISTS FROM CORAL COLLECTION AREAS IN INDONESIA
By
Eric Borneman
Department
of Biology and Biochemistry
Division
in Ecology and Evolution
University
of Houston
Part
III
Copyright
2003 Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine
URL: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2002/feature3.htm
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