Montipora undata True Undata Colony
Photo by Tracy Gray
This spectacular Montipora undata has to rate as one of the most exotic
Montipora stony corals we have seen in captivity. This particular speciman
looks exactly like the image in Corals of the World Volume 1 by Veron on
page 87 image 7. The Montipora undata species has a variety of forms and
ecomorphs. Forms range from plates to thick columns to thick branches. This
particular morph has a smooth surface and grows in a thick plating form.
There are tuberculae formed into smooth ridges on the surface. The tiny
colony that reeffarmers.com is farming was grown from a fragment that
was acquired from Eddie at Tropical Paradise in San Leandro California (near
Oakland). Eddie has an incredible collection of corals and this particular one
was awesome. Eddie acquired this specimen in a shipment from Indonesia.
The polyps are bright white. The main body is green. Edges and tuberculae
ridges are purple. This coral seems to require very strong to intense light
levels. More purple pigmentation may develop under brighter light levels.
Current requirements are moderate. Reeffarmers.com is calling this morph
of Montipora undata the 'True Undata'. This is just a way for us to define this
very unique growth and coloration pattern. Steve Tyree is maintaining this
coral for reeffarmers.com in one of his 125 gallon naturally filtered Tri-Zonal EG
Reef Aquariums. In Steve's captive reef the coral is positoned to recieve
moderate to strong light under a 400 watt 20,000 K Radium Metal Halide, but
the coral is slowly being adapted to strong light levels. The white polyp
coloration of the coral is easily maintained within this reef. Price is currently
$50 per small sized fragment.
TM
