Green Bubble Coral
(Plerogyra sinuosa)
Facts
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IUCN NEAR THREATENED (NT)
Facts about this animal
The Green Bubble Coral is a stony coral with large polyps. It can grow to 1-2 m and produces a basal calcareous skeleton. Although there are many polyps there is only one large oral opening. The Green Bubble Coral has bubble-like processes next to its tentacles in order to enlarge the surface and to offer more space and light to the symbiotic algae, the so called zooxanthellae which make the bubbles green. These bubbles shrink during night and the tentacles expand to 4-5 cm in order to capture food. The colour is green or blue.
Fertilization takes place in the digestive cavity and the planula larvae are released through the mouth. The larvae settle after one day and soon produce a calcareous basal plate. Within a few weeks tentacles grow.
| Factsheet | |
|---|---|
| Class | ANTHOZOA |
| Order | SCLERACTINIA |
| Family | CARYOPHYLLIIDAE |
| Name (Scientific) | Plerogyra sinuosa |
| Name (English) | Green Bubble Coral |
| Name (French) | Corail bulles |
| Name (German) | Blasenkoralle |
| Name (Spanish) | Coral duro |
| Local names | Dutch: Blaaskoraal Italian: Corallo a bolle |
| CITES Status | Appendix II |
| CMS Status | Not listed |
Distribution
| Distribution | |
|---|---|
| Range | Indo-Pacific Ocean |
| Habitat | It preferably lives in turbid lagoons and on the slopes of reefs where light is not so intensive. On rocky bottom. |
| Wild population | Population trend unknown |
| Zoo population | 54 reported to ISIS (2008) |
In the Zoo
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Why do zoos keep this animal
The Green Bubble Coral was among the first corals which could be kept in the aquarium because they are hardy. It its large and, therefore, suitable for exhibit.
How this animal should be kept
One of the most easy to keep corals, although very delicate to handle. Suitable for beginners of a reef aquarium. A minimum tank size of 200 l is required. Consider that the Green Bubble Coral can grow up to 1 m. Preferred temperature is 24-27 °C, specific gravity should be between 1.022 and 1.024 and pH at about 8.4. It should be set off other sessile organisms since its tentacles have a very strong venom. It can be fed with plankton or some substitute. Some light is needed for the symbiotic algae.