Starry Cup Coral

Acanthastrea echinata, the Starry Cup Coral, has bold corallites with spiny septa and vivid color morphs that have made it a collector's staple — it packs a lot of visual punch for a beginner-friendly species. Bottom placement under moderate light with medium flow; it's adaptable across a range of conditions and handles the mid-level parameters of a mixed reef without complaint. Slow growth means a frag takes real time to develop into a colony, so don't underestimate the patience required — but that same slow pace makes it very stable and resistant to sudden decline. Target feed weekly with mysis or meaty foods; well-fed Acanthastrea echinata shows noticeably richer color and marginally faster growth, which matters when the growth rate is already measured in months.