Source: Wikimedia Commons
Melithaea
AdvancedMelithaea spp.
An octocoral whose vivid red or orange branches spread in one plane to form a fan. It has no zooxanthellae, so light will not sustain it and frequent feeding is required, making it advanced.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
24〜27℃
Diet
Zooplankton and phytoplankton (feeding is mandatory; it does not photosynthesise)
About
Melithaea is a genus of melithaeid octocorals from the tropical Indo-West Pacific, known collectively in English as fan corals; the type species is Melithaea ochracea. WoRMS treats several names including Acabaria and Melitodes as synonyms of the genus. The skeleton alternates calcareous and flexible nodes, and fine branches spread in a single plane to build a fan-shaped colony. Ground colour is usually red or orange, and when the polyps open white dots stipple the surface, making it a centrepiece underwater. It is non-photosynthetic and holds no zooxanthellae, so lighting will not sustain it. Reflecting its habit of settling on well-flushed walls and overhangs, the aquarium needs strong random flow and plankton feeding several times a day. Species of the genus also occur around Japan.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Temperature & humidity for the Melithaea
The ideal temperature for the Melithaea is 24〜27℃.
Basic Info
Origin
Coral reefs of the tropical Indo-West Pacific
Temperature
24〜27℃
Diet
Zooplankton and phytoplankton (feeding is mandatory; it does not photosynthesise)
Care Guide
Lighting
No zooxanthellae, so lighting is unnecessary; place it under an overhang or on a shaded side wall.
Care Specifications
- Water Temp.
- 24–27℃
- Specific Gravity
- 1.023–1.025
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt
Soft coralLight: Low (PAR 30-50)Flow: HighPlacement: Flexible
Sources: Wikipedia: Reef aquarium (water parameters) / AlgaeBarn: Gorgonians in the Marine Aquarium / AlgaeBarn: Feeding Your NPS Aquarium / AlgaeBarn: Natural Water Quality Management for Non-Photosynthetic Reef Aquaria
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Melithaea spp. Milne Edwards & Haime, 1857
Synonyms: Acabaria, Anicella, Birotulata, Clathraria, Melitaea, Melitea, Melitella, Melitodes
Authority databases: WoRMS
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Octocoral, order Malacalcyonacea (Melithaea spp., Melithaeidae). Not listed by CITES: it belongs to none of Scleractinia, Antipatharia, Helioporidae, Tubiporidae, Milleporidae or Stylasteridae.
Sources: DOC NZ / CITES-listed corals (taxon not listed) / CITES Appendices
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Melithaea Listings
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