Star polyp is a soft coral with compressed colony structure that is composed of several identical polyps. These animals are a combination of living coral polyps and a coexisting single-celled microalga called Zooxanthellae.
Each polyp is an invertebrate that is only less than a few millimeters thick and several centimeters long (maximum 2.5 centimeters). The polyp has a central mouth that opens into the body's internal cavity.
Each polyp is an invertebrate that is only less than a few millimeters thick and several centimeters long (maximum 2.5 centimeters). The polyp has a central mouth that opens into the body's internal cavity.
All polyps are attached to a live purple mat, and this network holds the polyps together. This mat includes a complex and advanced system of gastrointestinal and vascular channels that allows them to share nutrients and coexistence, making it possible to transmit metabolites and cellular compounds.
Classification:
- Dynasty: Animals
- Branch: cnidarian
- Category: florals
- Subclass: Octocorallia with 8 tentacles
- Order: Alcyonacea soft corals - without calcium carbonate skeleton, with protein skeleton
- Infra order: Stolonifera, Soft corals that propagated by germinating and budding on the horizontal reproductive cortex
- Family: Tubiporidae
- Gender: Pachyclavularia
water parameters:
salinity
1.023 - 1.025
PH4
0
temperature
22 – 28 ° c
Ca
0
NH3- NH4
0
Mg
1200-1350 ppm
NO3
Less than 15
PH
8.2 - 8.4
Natural Dispersion:
Coral Star Polyps are found in the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific, on the upper surfaces of coral reefs where there is moderate to high water flow intensity.
Nutrition:
In nature, this coral uses different nutritional strategies. One method is to absorb small suspended and water-soluble nutrients and the other is to coexist with Zooxanthellae single-celled microalgae. In home aquariums, the major part of energy is gained by photosynthetic coexisting algae.
aquarium maintenance:
To maintain this coral, an aquarium with at least 200 liters of water volume and a mature biological filter and stable conditions is necessary. Changing 20% of water volume per month compensates for the lack of consumables. Adding supplements such as trace elements and calcium will ensure such growth and health in the aquarium.
Lighting:
Moderate to high light is essential for maintaining this coral. T5 fluorescent lamps are enough to get the right light intensity. Also, presence of lamps with actinic blue light wavelength increases the bright green color in this coral. In general, the light from metal halide lamps is too strong for Star Polyp and can cause bleaching and loss of this coral.
Suitable place of Star Polyp in the aquarium:
Coral Star Polyp can adapt to all levels of the aquarium. Since this coral has significant horizontal and surface growth, enough space must be considered for its growth. It has been seen many times in aquariums that it has continued to grow on the aquarium walls and other objects.
Water flow intensity:
Another important factor in the successful maintenance of this coral is the intensity of water flow. Star Polyps require moderate to strong currents. this turbulence causes the polyps to bloom in addition to keeping the surface of the mat clean. Occasionally, due to the accumulation of contamination and the growth of some algae on the live coating mat of this coral, the polyps do not open and flourish. In such cases, it is possible to remove debris by using the direct current of a small pump.
All images on this website belong to the Adak collection. ![watermark]()
Growth and propagation of star polyps:
The stages of growth and propagation of star polyps in the aquarium are amazing and interesting. At first, the mat, which contains a complex network of gastrointestinal and vascular channels, expands horizontally. Then small white bumps appear on the surface of this coating , which can be called buds. Within a few weeks, a small polyp emerges from each bud. These small polyps grow overtime. The average growth rate of star polyps in ideal conditions is about 2.5 cm per month.
In the photo below, taken in ADAK tanks various stages of growth and propagation can be seen in a small colony.
All images on this website belong to the Adak collection. ![watermark]()