Bubble Coral
Plerogyra sinuosa(Dana, 1846)Species
LPS coral with distinctive bubble-shaped tissue. Inflates by day, deflates at night. Responds well to feeding.
Names & Synonyms
- CommonBubble Coral
- Commonバブルコーラル
- SynonymEuphyllia cultrifera
- SynonymEuphyllia sinuosa
- SynonymPlerogyra cultrifera
- SynonymPlerogyra excavata
- SynonymPlerogyra laxa
Overview
Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) maximizes photosynthetic surface area by inflating grape-sized vesicles during the day, then deflates them at night to extend long sweeper tentacles for prey capture. Distributed from the Red Sea and Madagascar to Okinawa and the Line Islands, it requires low to moderate lighting (100–200 PAR) and gentle flow that does not strike the bubbles directly—deflated or shriveled bubbles indicate excess flow or insufficient light. Stable temperature (24–27°C) and alkalinity, combined with weekly target feeding of small meaty foods, ensure long-term health in the aquarium.
Care Specifications
| Type | LPS |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24〜27℃ |
| Specific gravity | 1.023〜1.025 |
| Salinity | 33〜35 ppt |
| KH (carbonate hardness) | 8〜12 dKH |
| Calcium (Ca) | 400〜450 mg/L |
| Magnesium (Mg) | 1280〜1350 mg/L |
| Lighting | Medium |
| Water flow | Low |
| Placement | Bottom |
Care Points
- Lighting—Moderate
- Flow—Gentle flow (avoid direct current)
- Feeding—Feed twice weekly for better growth
- Water Quality—Maintain stable water parameters
- Notes—Bubble tissue is fragile — avoid physical contact
Regulatory & Conservation
- CITES:
- Appendix II
- Notes:
- イシサンゴ目(Plerogyra sinuosa, Euphylliidae)。CITES 附属書II。
Sources
- AlgaeBarn: SPS/LPS care (PAR/flow)(careSpec)
- AlgaeBarn: Water Parameters 101(careSpec)
- DOC NZ / CITES-listed corals (Scleractinia spp. = App. II)(regulatory)
- Wikipedia(detail)
Related corals of the same type
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