© NPS photo - Larry Basch. Identified by Charles Birkeland / Public domainAcropora Digitifera
Acropora digitifera is a stony coral that grows finger-like branches reaching outward from a spreading colony, with colonies capable of reaching up to a meter across. Each slender branch carries an elongated, tube-shaped axial corallite, and the branch tips often take on a soft blue tint. It closely resembles Acropora humilis but tends to stay smaller, with finer, more tightly packed digitate lobes that set it apart. Like most Acropora species, it needs strong lighting, steady water flow, and stable water quality, making it a coral best suited to experienced, advanced-level reef keepers.
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Acropora Digitifera key facts
- Care level
- Advanced
- Size
- Colonies up to 1 m in diameter
- Temperature
- 22〜26℃
- Diet
- Mainly nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented with powdered or liquid coral foods and phytoplankton.
- Lighting
- Requires strong light. AlgaeBarn cites successful Acropora keeping at PAR 800 or more. Start newly added colonies under reduced light and raise it over several weeks.
- Flow & Placement
- It lives on wave-washed back reefs and intertidal reef flats, environments with strong light and strong water movement. Place it high and bright with strong flow.
- Water Temperature & Quality
- Water 22-26C, specific gravity 1.023-1.025, KH 8-12, calcium 380-440 ppm, magnesium 1300-1400 ppm. Sudden swings in alkalinity are the most common cause of tissue loss.
- Feeding
- Most of its nutrition comes from photosynthesis by its zooxanthellae. Powdered or liquid coral foods and phytoplankton can be offered as a supplement, but stable light and water chemistry matter more than feeding.
- Notes
- A shallow-water species from 0-12 m with correspondingly high light and flow requirements. It is easily confused with A. humilis, so check the scientific name. Listed on CITES Appendix II.
About Acropora Digitifera
A digitate Acropora coral with colonies up to a meter wide and blue-tinged branch tips. Smaller and finer-branched than A. humilis, best suited to experienced reef keepers.
7 things to know before welcoming a Acropora Digitifera
1Advanced-Level Care Difficulty
Acropora digitifera is generally considered an advanced-level coral to keep, since it's sensitive to changes in lighting, water flow, and water quality. It's a good idea to gain experience with hardier corals first before adding this species to your tank.
2Digitate, Finger-Like Branches
True to its name, this coral grows slender, finger-like branches radiating outward to form its colony. Each branch tip carries an elongated, tube-shaped axial corallite, and the tips often take on a blue tint that's one of its most appealing features.
3Telling It Apart from A. Humilis
It's easy to confuse with the similar-looking Acropora humilis, but A. digitifera stays smaller overall and has finer, more tightly packed digitate lobes. Checking the branch structure closely, not just the label, helps confirm you have the right coral.
4Colonies Can Reach 1m Across
A mature colony can grow to about a meter across, making it a striking centerpiece in a large reef tank. Plan ahead for its eventual size by giving it plenty of tank space and room to spread in your layout.
5Managing Flow and Lighting
Steady water flow around and between the branches supports healthy growth throughout the colony. Insufficient lighting can slow branch extension and dull its coloration, so lighting intensity and placement need ongoing attention.
6Keeping Water Quality Stable
Like other Acropora species, A. digitifera is sensitive to sudden shifts in water chemistry. Regularly testing parameters such as calcium and alkalinity, and keeping them stable, is essential to keeping it healthy.
7Handle Branches with Care
Because the colony is made up of thin, delicate branches, applying too much force during aquascaping or maintenance can snap them. When trimming or repositioning the coral, support the base of the branch and work slowly and carefully.
Frequently asked questions about Acropora Digitifera
- Q.Can beginners keep this coral successfully?
- A.Acropora digitifera is generally considered an advanced-level coral to keep, since it's sensitive to changes in lighting, water flow, and water quality. It's a good idea to gain experience with hardier corals first before adding this species to your tank.
- Q.How can I tell it apart from Acropora humilis?
- A.A. digitifera looks similar to A. humilis but stays smaller overall, with finer, more tightly packed digitate lobes. Comparing branch thickness and how finely the lobes are divided is the easiest way to distinguish the two.
- Q.How large can this coral eventually grow?
- A.A mature colony of A. digitifera can reach up to about a meter across. Since it can grow quite large in a tank, it's worth planning your aquascape layout with its future size in mind.
- Q.Why do the branch tips often turn blue?
- A.Blue-tinged branch tips are one of the notable features of this coral. How strongly the color develops varies between individual colonies and depends on tank conditions such as lighting and water quality.
- Q.Does CITES apply to this coral?
- A.Acropora Digitifera is listed in CITES Appendix II. International trade requires a permit from the exporting country, but as far as CITES is concerned, no registration is needed to buy or sell individuals already legally in Japan.
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