We all know these corals as Acan's from when they were previously given the scientific name 'Acanthastrea lordhowensis'. It's ok to keep calling them Acan's for the sake of simplicity but if you like the geeky details (and you should) they're now classified as 'Micromussa lordhowensis' from the family 'Lobophylliidae'. Being from the Lobophylliidae family makes them kin to other popular genera such as Lobophyllia (Lobo's), Acanthastrea (true Acans) and also less likely genera such as Echinophyllia (Chalice corals) and Cynarina (Cat’s eye / Doughnut corals), which explains why we find the care requirements for these types of corals to be so similar.
Micromussa lordhowensis can be found throughout the Indo-pacific region, a very large area although most of the species you find in the hobby originate from Indonesia or Australia.
Particular colour morphs are now routinely cultured in these areas which can only be a good thing for hobbyists. Currently (Jun 2023) particular colour morphs are banned from being collected / exported out of Australia in response to pressure on wild populations from over-collection, in light of this the need for more managed culture operations is vital if we are to continue to keep this species in the hobby and affordable.
Lords (Micromussa lords) have long been a popular choice for hobbyists because they’re considered to be reasonably easy to keep once you’ve mastered good water management in your aquarium. Keeping the basic parameters (KH, Ca, Mg, PO4, NO3, Temp, Salinity) correct is very important for all corals so we won’t count that as a requirement specifically for this species. Care requirements more specific to Micromussa lords include…
Lighting
Low to moderate light works best with Lords, too high a light and you may find they stay deflated to reduce surface or they may expel zooxanthellae. Aiming to keep them low in the aquarium should achieve this. If you want to get them higher up you can carefully acclimate them over time to higher positions.
Flow
Moderate flow is desirable, this aids their filter feeding activities. Varied flow at different times of the day provides the best outcome for corals in the opinion of many hobbyists.
Feeding
Lords have short feeding tentacles around each polyp, they’re very active feeders which indicates they probably derive a large portion of their energy from filter feeding (unlike some corals that derive most of their energy from the zooxanthellae & photosynthesis processes taking place within their cells). For this reason it is highly recommended to target feed these corals once or twice a week with an appropriate pellet food like Fauna Marin LPS pellets or a quality plankton based food like Reef Roids.
Aggression
Lords are very capable of getting into a fight with neighbouring corals, they have effective stinging cells called nematocysts on long sweeper tentacles so for this reason it is advisable to give at least four or five inches between them and other stony corals. In my personal experience keeping Lords of different colours close together does not cause any problems although a quick search of the internet reveals that not everyone *believes* they've been so lucky in that respect so placement should be done with caution and observed.
Natural predators
Lords, like many fleshy corals have an abundance of natural predators so be careful with your fish selection. In the wild damage to colonies is rarely total but in a small closed reef system like your home aquarium the coral can be completely consumed in a short space of time. The most common culprits we come across are angels, filefish and puffers but that list is not in any way exhaustive. Occasionally but less often we hear of shrimp or urchins picking on fleshy corals but it’s always hard to separate out if they’re nibbling away at corals that have already died (therefore doing their job) or if they’re actually the ones causing the first wave of damage.
What really makes Micromussa lordhowensis so popular is the aesthetics. The shape really epitomises the underwater world – they’re soft and bulbous, inflating and deflating with easy fluidity, their short tentacles waving eagerly in the current for the chance to snag tiny prey. To us mere landlubber’s it’s a peek into something so alien and abstract we can’t help but be a bit awe struck by a healthy, chunky Lord coral in our living room.
The stunning array of colour combinations you find Lords in makes them fun to compare with each other and ultimately very collectible. These characteristics have and will continue to make them an exceptionally popular coral for reef keepers everywhere.
Check out what Micromussa lords (aka Acans) we have in stock here
