🪸 Montipora sp. “Black Yellow Snake” – First Release
WYSIWYG Specimen – Ultra-Rare High-Contrast Montipora
🔹 Quick Stats
Care Level: Moderate to Advanced
Temperament: Peaceful (can encrust near other corals if given space)
Colour Form: The Black Yellow Snake Montipora features a dramatic pattern of deep black base coloration intertwined with intense yellow streaks and patches, creating a striking serpentine pattern across the surface. Under actinic lighting the yellow sections glow with bright fluorescent intensity while the black base becomes even darker, producing an extreme high-contrast effect. Under white lighting the coral reveals a wild marbled pattern of charcoal-black and golden-yellow that resembles the scales of an exotic snake.
Water Conditions: 24–26 °C, dKH 7.5–9, pH 8.0–8.4, sg 1.024–1.026
Family: Acroporidae
Lighting: Moderate to High (PAR 150–300)
Water Flow: Moderate to strong, turbulent
Placement: Mid to upper rockwork with room for encrusting growth
🧬 Overview
The Montipora “Black Yellow Snake” – First Release is an exceptionally rare colour morph that immediately stands out due to its extreme black and yellow contrast. The irregular pattern spreads across the coral like snake skin, giving the colony a wild, exotic appearance rarely seen in Montipora varieties.
This morph grows primarily as an encrusting to plating Montipora, gradually spreading across rock surfaces while maintaining its intense colour pattern. As the colony expands, the yellow streaks and patches become more pronounced, creating a dynamic and constantly evolving visual texture.
This piece represents a First Release specimen, making it particularly desirable for collectors and reef hobbyists seeking unique and unusual SPS corals.
WYSIWYG:
You will receive the exact coral shown in the photo. Each specimen is individually photographed and selected for colour intensity, pattern definition and overall coral health.
Selected for:
• Strong black base coloration
• Bright fluorescent yellow patterning
• Distinct snake-like contrast
• Healthy tissue and active growth edges
• Excellent colour potential under LED lighting
🍽️ Care & Feeding
Montipora corals rely mainly on photosynthesis but benefit from occasional micro-feeding and a stable nutrient environment.
Recommended feeding:
• Reef plankton blends or powdered coral foods
• Amino acids for SPS systems
• Broadcast feeding 1–2× weekly
📈 Optimal Parameters
Parameter | Ideal Range
Alkalinity (dKH) | 7.5–9
Calcium (Ca) | 420–450 ppm
Magnesium (Mg) | 1300–1400 ppm
Nitrate (NO₃) | 2–10 ppm
Phosphate (PO₄) | 0.02–0.08 ppm
📍 Placement
Place in the mid to upper areas of the aquascape where moderate to strong lighting is available. Provide turbulent flow to keep the coral surface clean and support healthy encrusting growth.
Allow surrounding rock space for the coral to naturally expand its plating or encrusting structure.
🐍 Montipora “Black Yellow Snake” – First Release
Jet-black base wrapped in glowing yellow patterns — a rare serpentine Montipora that looks like living reptile skin growing across your reef.