Montipora is a very diverse genus with growth forms ranging from encrusting to plate-like/foliose to encrusting/submassive to branching. A distinctive feature of the genus Montipora are the “ornaments” in the skeletal structure: these are variously shaped elevations or ridges between the corallites (coenosteum). The very small polyps are embedded between these skeletal structures. The tissue between the corallites and the polyps can be of many different colours. The different forms and colours make Montipora an extremely versatile genus. With 73 species currently described, species identification of Montipora is really difficult – several images are required: Growth form of the mother colony, close-up image of the colony and polyp structure, macro or microscopic image of the skeleton (without living tissue).
In the aquarium they are usually very docile corals, many are very easy to keep and easy to start. Some other species are more sensitive, grow more slowly and require more light and good, constant water parameters. In any case, Montipora is one of the most popular and widespread corals in marine aquariums.
Montipora cf. altasepta`digitat, rot´
The “Red Monti” is a must have in any reef tank.
It is robust, has an attractive red colour and grows fast – so it is perfect as a first stocking to add some life and colour to the tank…
It requires less light and should not be placed in the centre of the reef structure due to its fast growth.
We have been keeping it since 2005 and have supplied countless offspring to aquarists and marine aquarium retailers.
Discription
The mother colonies consist of groups of thin branches that are often irregularly fused. These are very fragile – due to the low density of the skeleton, as a result of rapid growth. The skeleton is quite loose & airy and has a rougher surface than that of the similar M. samarensis, which grows more slowly and has a denser skeleton. The branch tips are rather rounded.
Based on these characteristics, we believe that our Monti is a Montipora altasepta and would like to refer to it as Montipora cf. altasepta due to the uncertainty of species identification.
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Montipora cf. digitata `stahlblau´
Similar to the branching “Red Monti”, this is another easy-care starter variety.
It is very robust, grows fast and requires little light. If given plenty of light and low nutrient levels, it will develop a very light grey intermediate tissue with steel blue polyps!
It is therefore a good idea to place it at the very top of the tank, just below the water surface – this way its strong upward growth is limited by the water surface. In low light, however, it is a uniform grey-brown colour.
Beschreibung:
This branching Montipora also grows in clusters, but the branches are somewhat thicker and more irregular than those of the red M. cf. altasepta.
The tips of the branches are rounded. The branches may grow together in “clumps” or they may fuse again. The corallites are embedded in the coenosteum, giving the skeleton a smooth appearance. On closer inspection, the growth form and skeletal structure differ in several details from the red-coloured M. cf. altasepta and M. samarensis. We believe that our steel blue Monti is a Montipora digitata .
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Montipora sp. `digitat, grün´
Another easy care and fast growing Montipora for beginners, a real “classic”. It is beautifully coloured with uniform green polyps and green intermediate tissue. It grows encrusting over the substrate with branches and elevations growing out of this base. It is therefore quite expansive and can quickly become a large mother colony. We have kept it since 2004.
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Montipora sp.`digitat, graugrün´
Another robust, branching Montipora with grey-green polyps and intermediate tissue.
It has a similar growth form to M. sp. `digitat, green’, but the branches are much thinner and the corallites are embedded in the coenosteum.
It requires little light, but is always grey-green in colour, so it is best placed in less attractive areas at the bottom or sides.
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Montipora capitata`digitat, lila´
A very attractive species with purple polyps in creamy intermediate tissue.
It is also fairly easy to keep, but grows a little slower and needs a little more light than the previous species.
It grows flat to encrusting over the substrate, branching upwards to form columns.
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Montipora samarensis
An attractive branching Montipora with vermilion polyps and grey-red intermediate tissue. It is extremely fluorescent and under blue light the different colours give a nice contrast. The branches are thin, up to about 6 mm, and the tips are grey-white and without polyps. It grows relatively slowly and needs a lot of light.
It is known in the reef community as “Montipora Forest Fire“. You might ask yourself how you come up with such names… in the evening during the blue light phase, with yellow filter glasses, perhaps under the influence of drugs? However, the intermediate tissue fluoresces under blue light, especially at the tips, greenish like the forest, while the polyps are bright red. Like a forest fire…
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Montipora sp. `green polyps´
A Montipora with brown-grey intermediate tissue and bright green polyps that fluoresce strongly under blue light.
It requires a relatively large amount of light and grows slowly.
This Montipora species has a rather irregular growth form, with twisted branches growing from an encrusting base. The corallites are embedded in the coenosteum with numerous irregular coenosteum papillae, which occasionally fuse to form ridges.
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Montipora danae `knallgrün´
A beautiful Montipora that grows in thick plates. Our colour form, which we have been growing since 2010, is bright green and extremely fluorescent. Montipora danae is widespread from the Red Sea to the central Pacific and is often found in the upper reef slopes and lagoons. For aquarium keeping, this means that it requires relatively high light levels and also benefits from moderate currents. As a mother colony it is a real eye-catcher and provides a shaded area for nocturnal and cave dwelling animals.
Montipora danae was scientifically described in 1851 by the French zoologist Henri Milne Edwards and named after the famous geologist, mineralogist, volcanologist and coral taxonomist James Dwight Dana.
They are characterised by wart-shaped protrusions on the calcareous skeleton, called “verrucae”, which can fuse together, especially at the edges. These “ornaments” give the skeleton the appearance of a “mountain range” with deep valleys in which the very small polyps are submerged. Other Montipora species with a very similar skeletal structure and growth form are M. verrucosa, M. verruculosa and M. palawanensis.
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Montipora confusa `neongreen´
Montipora confusa is a robust but attractive and rather fast growing starter species: It is characterized by its neon green interstitial tissue and brown – for Montipora quite large – “fuzzy” polyps. It is very fluorescent under blue light. Its natural range is from the Coral Triangle to Fiji. It is found in lagoons and shallow reefs and is not common.
Montipora confusa initially grows in the form of a crust in order to quickly cover as large an area of the substrate as possible. It then grows increasingly irregular columnar branches upwards. Characteristic is the flame-like pattern of the skeletal ornaments on the edges and branch tips, as well as the pale ridges between which the polyps are embedded.
Other Montipora species with similar skeletal structure and growth form are Montipora vietnamensis, M. cebuensis and M. undata.
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Montipora sp.`rainbow´
A dream of coral – orange corallites in purple intermediate tissue. Incrusting growth form. Very similar to the so-called Montipora “superman”, which are most likely different colour types of one species.
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Montipora sp. `superman´
Another fantastic coloured coral. Incrusting growth form. Very similar to the so-called Montipora “rainbow”.
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