Acropora Touching

[LSU-reefer]

Can Acropora of the same type touch without harming each other (Tenius/Tenius, Montipora/Montipora, Etc)? I am thinking of putting all the same species in the tank in an effort to not prune.

 

[thamnasteroid]

I don’t know the answer to your question. However, I can tell you that montipora are not acropora.
From what I know, corals of the same genus can be near each other. I do not know if that is true for acropora though.

 

[Nonya]

I suppose as long as it's not inappropriate touching.;)

Seriously, the acros will let you know. Even with the same colony they tend to stay away from each other due to competition for light. I've never seen an SPS tank in which there wasn't some kind of competition for space and light, whether it be out/overgrowing, stinging and chemical warfare.

 

[sculpin01]

Unless they are genetically identical, most Acropora (and corals in general) will sting each other upon contact. So yes, two distinct Acropora tenuis will usually sting one another.

This is seen on reefs where multiple coral planulae settle adjacent to one-another. Generally there are three possible outcomes: 1) fusion to form a chimera expressing two or more cell lines (e.g. "rainbow splice millepora" and similar), 2) warfare that results in one final survivor/victor, or 3) tolerance where they grow next to each other but usually one dominates.

 

[LSU-reefer]

thanks for the reply....was hoping they would be more hospitable if they were more closely related. I think I will just stick generally Acro's and hope for the best.

I just accidentally wiped out my tank with a bacterial bloom so having to start over...I had some monti's that needed to be trimmed all the time and was trying to limit that.

 

[Dennis Cartier]

Some SPS like montipora's can get along surprisingly well. The green monticap below is growing crazy fast. I noticed it was about 1/4" from the green digi on the weekend, and thought I had better trim it. I forgot, and by Thursday of the following week it had reached it. I was wondering if there would be a fight, but the monticap appears to be avoiding touching it and is growing vertical and around it.