Micromussa amakusensis

Veron, 1990

Micro Acan

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Hong Kong, Southern Japan, and south to Australia and Palau.

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef slopes and lagoons and seen at depths between 3 to 100 feet (1 - 30 m).

General Husbandry: Colorful specimens in the wild are uncommon and when available in the trade, now a cultured specimen.

Best maintained in medium to bright light, with moderate water movement, with mid-level placement in very brightly lit aquariums highly recommended.

Benefits from once or twice a week feedings of various plankton-like foods, such as Oyster eggs, cyclops, baby brine shrimp, Spirulina, enriched adult brine and mysis shrimp, and placed directly on the center of the polyps.

Feed only a small number of polyps, as food taken in will be shared by adjoining polyps.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Mussidae

Genus: Micromussa

FYI: Cultured frags occasionally available.

Experience with this species has shown that if pH is maintained at 8.3, growth appears to accelerate.

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Photosynthetic/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Semi-aggressive

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 74 - 83°F (23 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Lighting: PAR 350 - 450+

Water Movement: WM 2 - 3

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.