The Jack-o-Lantern Leptoseris is well know and sought after by high end collectors. It has a bright orange body and striking green eyes.
It is easy to keep and will encrust over the rocks as it grows.
Placement: Mount the Jack-O-Lantern Leptoseris Coral using IC gel glue, or putty, on an exposed rock in the lower two- thirds of the aquarium where they will receive moderate currents and low to moderate lighting. Leave space for this coral to grow and encrust the rocks around it.
Feeding: Although symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae hosted within the Jack-O-Lantern Leptoseris Coral supply most of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis they do benefit from supplemental feedings of Oyster-Feast, mysis shrimp, or finely chopped meaty foods.
Lighting & Flow Requirements: The Jack-O-Lantern Leptoseris Coral requires moderate water flow and low to moderate lighting (PAR 120-220). T5's, Metal Halides, or LED's can all grow Leptastrea Corals when the proper PAR levels are provided. We recommend a 14-20K color spectrum for best coloration.
Frag Size: 2 - 3 cm
Leptoseris are commonly known as a wrinkle coral but almost no one in the hobby refers to this coral by its common name. Leptoseris were made popular a few years ago when bright orange color morphs came onto the scene and blew everyone away with their intense fluorescence. They are one of the most dazzling corals under actinic lighting because in addition to their bright coloration, they almost take on a metallic appearance. Please see below for additional care tips for Leptoseris as well as checking out our Top 5 Tips for setting up a reef.
Leptoseris do very well in shady areas of the reef. They are commonly found under overhangs and lower reef slopes, so we recommend low lighting. Having said that, Leptoseris are highly adaptable to different lighting systems but do change colors to compensate. They do fluoresce nicely under actinic, in particular LED so as a matter of personal preference we keep them under blue lighting.
Low Light
Low light translates to about 30-50 PAR
Medium Light
Medium Light is between 50-150 PAR
High Light
High Light is anything over 150 PAR
Lighting is a loaded topic, so for a more in-depth discussion of lighting, please see our Deep Dive article.
We recommend keeping the coral in a low to medium flow area of the reef aquarium. Excessive flow could cause this particular species to become stressed and not extend fully. Lower flow also provides more opportunities for feeding.
Leptoseris have small mouths and cannot feed on large particles. In our experience, Leptoseris is a challenging coral to feed and most attempts up to this point have been unsuccessful.
This Genus is a great candidate for aquaculture. Leptoseris heal very quickly from cutting and their growth pattern is conducive to high productivity.
Proper acclimation is extremely important considering the stress imposed on the animals by the shipping process. Please take a moment to review our Acclimation Guide.
The images were taken with a Canon 5D mk II and 100mm macro lens under T5 Fluorescent lighting. Quite a lot goes into how we go about shooting the corals and anemones you see on Tidal Gardens. For an in-depth look at our methods, check out our comprehensive Reef Aquarium Photography FAQ.
Credits: https://www.tidalgardens.com/
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