Haunted Halloween Acan Echinata

Haunted Halloween Acan Echinata, Acanthastrea echinata, is a colonial stony coral known for its thick fleshy tissue, strongly defined corallites, and ability to display intense contrasting pigmentation. This WYSIWYG specimen shows vivid fluorescent orange tissue across the raised corallite margins, deep burgundy to purple-red coloration through the inner portions, and striking neon green highlights around several mouths and along portions of the colony edge. The combination of orange, dark red-purple, and fluorescent green gives this coral its dramatic “Haunted Halloween” appearance. Acanthastrea echinata forms encrusting to massive colonies in which neighboring corallites are closely integrated beneath a continuous layer of living tissue. It contains symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates that provide much of its energy, while the fleshy polyps can also capture zooplankton and appropriately sized meaty foods.

Care Guide: Acanthastrea echinata generally does best under low to moderate reef lighting with low to moderate, indirect water movement. Excessively intense lighting or sudden increases in PAR can cause tissue stress, so acclimate gradually when moving the coral into brighter conditions. Place on stable lower to middle rockwork or on the aquarium bottom where its fleshy tissue will not rub against sharp surfaces. Maintain stable temperature, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium, along with measurable nitrate and phosphate. Although primarily photosynthetic, this species can benefit from occasional targeted feeding with appropriately sized meaty or planktonic foods. Provide generous spacing from neighboring corals because A. echinata can be aggressive and may damage nearby colonies through direct tissue contact or extended feeding/sweeper structures.