TM

Limited Edition
Rukis Blue Monster Acropora
An Original from The Happy Coral
Rukis Blue Monster Acropora Limited Edition SPS Stony. The Happy Coral original colony imaged under 20,000 K.
Note the Royal Blue corallites and Teal Blue colored branch stems. Originally the branch tips had developed
bright purple violet colored tips. That is a coloration pattern that is typical of shallow water Acropora.
Also note that the branches are short and compact which indicates strong current typically found in shallows.
 Image Copyright © 2011 by The Happy Coral All Rights Reserved.
A brilliantly colored shallow water Acropora that can develop additional pigments in moderate light levels. The Rukis Blue Monster develops an extensive Royal Blue pigmentation in strong light. Originally branch tips also developed a bright purple/violet tip coloration. When placed in moderate light levels the branch stems and lower areas turn into a light Teal blue. Best coloration occurs when corallites are Royal Blue while the branch stems are Teal Blue. Polyps are transparent, but also contain varying amounts of blue pigment and are more Royal Blue near the branch tips.

The Rukis Blue Monster Acropora was originally imported by Oculus Aquatics in Van Nuys California. It had been exported from Australia and arrived as an unknown Aussie coral. The Happy Coral acquired the coral in early 2011. Rukis believes this may be an Acropora anthocercis with raspy thick prominent corallites. Under strong light levels, the Royal Blue pigments develop over the entire coral. Under moderate light levels, the teal colored branch coloration develops more extensively in lower areas of branches. It is not known how to promote the development of the corals original purple/violet colored branch tips.

Steve Tyree is maintaining a seed section of this coral for Reeffarmers.com in a 130 gallon Raceway Gyre BiZonal system. This system is naturally filtered with a semi-cryptic zone and a reef flat exposed zone. In Steve's captive reef the coral is positioned to receive strong to moderate light levels from a 400 watt 20,000 K Radium metal halide. Water current is moderate to weak. The first edition fragment was sold privately to a Southern California coral farmer.

Rukis Blue Monster Acropora Limited Edition SPS Stony. Reeffarmers Seed Image.
Closeup of a single branch fragment. Note that polyps are dark Royal Blue in the tip area.
The lower polyps appear to contain less pigments, which gives them a light blue coloration.
Corallites are very prominent and have a thick scaly structure.
 Image Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Reeffarmers All Rights Reserved.
BACK TO Limited Editions Acropora page