Acan coral

Care at a glance

Among collectors the acan is perhaps the most traded LPS: colonies of thick, fleshy cups in stacked rings of colour — red with green, orange with purple — where rare morphs are sold by the head. They are classified as Micromussa these days, but everyone calls them acans.

They belong low in the tank, on sand or a sheltered ledge: too much light or flow makes the tissue retract and the colours fade. Feeding here is not an extra but the difference between standing still and growing — a small piece of mysis per cup, a few times a week, and the colony visibly expands. Keep some distance, because acans burn neighbours too.

Good to know

• Potent sting — keep distance in the tank

Related species

• Confetti coralMicromussa amakusensis
• Favia brain coralFavia sp.
• Blastomussa (wellsi)Blastomussa wellsi
• Candy cane coralCaulastraea furcata
• Pineapple blastomussaBlastomussa merleti
• Octopus coral (branching frogspawn)Euphyllia paradivisa