Pectinia

Pectinia is a genus of coral made up of thin, convoluted walls, with upward-pointing spires in some species; the colony resembles lettuce or carnation petals. Pectinia paeonia and P. lactuca are the most common in the trade; species are often not distinguished, so this page covers the genus as a whole. Because the tissue is thin, it can easily recede from the edges. Its trade is subject to CITES Appendix II; choose a maricultured colony or an aquacultured frag.

• Light: Moderate, about 75–150 PAR; because it lives in turbid water in the wild, it does not like strong light.
• Flow: Low to moderate and indirect; detritus should not collect between the thin walls.
• Placement: The middle or lower zone of the rockwork.
• Water parameters: Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–10 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1350 mg/L; nitrate 2–10 mg/L.

It is photosynthetic, but benefits from supplemental feeding. Once or twice a week, after the lights go out, give fine-grained LPS food or chopped mysis.

It extends tentacles at night and can burn neighboring corals with its mesenterial filaments; leave at least 10 cm of space around it. Its own thin tissue is also easily harmed by aggressive LPS. Dwarf angelfish and hermit crabs may pick at the tissue.