Red Dragon Acropora

Red Dragon Acropora: The Deep Red Icon

The Red Dragon Acropora (Acropora species, widely recognized as a strain of Acropora formosa or A. caroliniana) is arguably the most famous and highly coveted Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral in the reef aquarium hobby. This coral is renowned for its unmatched deep red or burgundy coloration on its branches and polyps, combined with brilliant white or pale pink growth tips, creating a fiery, almost metallic appearance.

The Red Dragon grows in a delicate, open, and slightly straggly branching morphology, unlike the denser structures of many other Acropora strains. Its dramatic color is due to a high concentration of non-fluorescent red pigmentation (chromoprotein), which requires a specific set of environmental factors—most notably ultra-low nutrient levels and high-intensity lighting—to fully develop.

This is an Expert-Only coral. It is extremely sensitive to changes in water chemistry and is often used as a canary in the coal mine for water quality, as the deep red color will quickly fade to brown if nutrients (nitrate/phosphate) rise above trace levels or if alkalinity fluctuates.

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: This coral is primarily Photosynthetic. It relies heavily on the energy produced by its symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, which requires intense light.
• Feeding: While light is critical, supplemental feeding is recommended, especially for frag growth. Target feed the coral polyps 2-3 times per week with high-quality, fine planktonic foods, such as amino acid solutions, coral powders, or fine rotifers. Nutrient control is paramount, so feeding must be balanced with filtration.
• Reef Compatibility: It is Reef Safe but extremely Territorial. Like all Acropora species, it is a hard coral and is chemically or physically aggressive toward its neighbors. It requires at least 6-8 inches of clearance from all other corals to prevent tissue loss from stinging or chemical aggression.
• Temperament: Peaceful toward fish and motile invertebrates, but Highly Aggressive/Territorial toward other corals. It demands placement in the upper half of the aquarium under the strongest lighting and flow.
• Water Requirements: Requires zero tolerance for instability. The tank must be biologically mature with ultra-low nutrient levels (Nitrate < 5 ppm, Phosphate < 0.05 ppm). Critical parameters: Alkalinity (dKH 8.0-8.5), Calcium (420-450 ppm), and Magnesium (1300-1400 ppm). Demands very intense, high-quality lighting (PAR 400-600+) and very strong, laminar water flow to prevent dead spots and enhance color.

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Acropora sp. (Likely a variant of A. formosa)
• Primary Common Name: Red Dragon Acropora
• Other Common Names: Red Dragon Acro, Deep Red Acropora
• Origin: Cultured/Maricultured (Originals from the Indo-Pacific)
• Max Size: Can grow into large, intricate colonies (8-15+ inches)
• Temperament: Peaceful (Aggressive/Territorial toward other corals)
• Diet: Photosynthetic (Zooxanthellate; benefits from plankton/aminos)
• Minimum Tank Size: 75 Gallons (Established, dedicated SPS reef)
• Reef Compatibility: Yes, but requires expert-level spacing and stability.
• Care Level: Expert Only