SPS
Montipora capricornis
Montipora capricornis
Also sold as Monti cap, Plating montipora
- Type
- SPS
- Care level
- Beginner SPS to moderate (sources disagree)
- Light
- 150 to 300 PAR (high)
- Flow
- Medium
- With neighbours
- Peaceful
Safety: handling montipora capricornis
Low hazard
How do you care for montipora capricornis?
Placement
Mid to upper rock; plates shade what is below
Flow
Moderate, turbulent and random
Feeding
Not required
Growth
Fast
Water quality
Stable alkalinity 7.5 to 9 dKH, calcium 420 to 440, magnesium 1300 to 1400 suggested typical, check
How much light does it need?
Sources put it at about 150 to 300 PAR, measured where the coral sits. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.
150 to 300 in one guide; 150 to 250 on retail listings; start around 150. typical, check
Which neighbours are safe?
Low; can shade and overgrow
Room for plates
Fish
Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.
Take care (6)
- Yellow clown gobyYellow clown goby may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Lawnmower blennyLawnmower blenny may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Tailspot blennyTailspot blenny may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
Other corals
Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.
Take care (12)
- Toadstool leatherToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the montipora capricornis; run activated carbon.
- Finger leatherFinger leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the montipora capricornis; run activated carbon.
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.
Take care (3)
- Emerald crabSome emerald crabs nip corals when hungry.
- Peppermint shrimpSome peppermint shrimps nip corals when hungry.
- Camel shrimpSome camel shrimps nip corals when hungry.
These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.
Pests, dips and quarantine
Montipora-eating nudibranch (Phestilla subodiosus): adults on the underside; eggs survive dips. Also occasionally Porites and Anacropora.
Coral RX, Revive and Seachem Reef Dip reported to kill adult nudibranchs in about five minutes; imidacloprid insecticide reportedly did not. No dip kills the eggs; remove eggs by hand and re-dip.
No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.
Where sources disagree
| Topic | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty |
| Sources differ here, so we give the range and the reasons rather than one number. |
Sources
Last checked . How we check
Found a mistake? Tell us how to fix it.
Related corals
Montipora digitata
Montipora digitata
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
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- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
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- Neighbours
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Photo Ahmed Abdul Rahman, CC BY-SA 4.0
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- Care
- Intermediate
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- Flow
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- Neighbours
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Birdsnest coral
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- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo Faol, CC BY-SA 3.0