Ember Eye Crucifer (Crucifer spp.)
Quick Stats
- Care Level: Moderate
- Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
- Colour Form: Vibrant Green Mouth, Fiery Red Center, and Soft Grey Tentacles
- Water Conditions: 24-26°C, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
- Family: Mussidae
- Lighting: Moderate
- Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Amino Acids, Trace Elements
- Water Flow: Low to Moderate
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
Overview
The Ember Eye Crucifer is a mesmerizing coral with a brilliant green mouth that draws the eye to its intense red center, all framed by soft, smoky grey tentacles. This dramatic contrast gives it a mystical, ember-like appearance, making it a rare and highly desirable piece for reef collectors. Under actinic lighting, the neon-green mouth glows vividly, further enhancing its fiery core and ethereal structure.
Care & Feeding
Thriving in moderate lighting and gentle water flow, the Ember Eye Crucifer expands fully when placed in a stable, nutrient-rich environment. While it is photosynthetic, occasional target feedings of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or reef-specific micro foods will enhance growth, coloration, and vitality.
Keeping calcium, magnesium, and trace element levels stable is essential to preserve its rich coloration and fleshy structure.
Optimal Parameters
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-12
- Calcium (Ca): 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium (Mg): 1250-1350 ppm
- Nitrate (NO3): 5-15 ppm
- Phosphate (PO4): 0.03-0.08 ppm
Placement
For best results, the Ember Eye Crucifer should be placed in the bottom to middle sections of the tank, where it receives moderate lighting and gentle flow. Since it has moderate sweeper tentacles, ensuring adequate space from neighboring corals will prevent territorial encounters.
With its glowing green mouth, deep red core, and mysterious grey tentacles, the Ember Eye Crucifer is an unparalleled showpiece that adds a unique, otherworldly beauty to any reef aquarium!