- Common name
- Acropora yongei
- Scientific name
- Acropora yongei
- Category
- Coral
- Group
- Small-polyp stony corals
- Environment
- Marine reef aquarium
- Origin
- Tropical Indo-Pacific shallow reefs and rocky foreshores
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- Natural colonies may exceed 2 m across and form extensive single-species thickets
- Expected lifespan
- Potentially decades under stable conditions; colony age is open-ended because living fragments can continue the same genet, so a fixed aquarium maximum is not defensible.
- Minimum housing
- At least 200 L in a mature reef aquarium with substantial growth and pruning space
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Hardness / minerals
- Alkalinity 7–9 dKH; calcium 400–450 mg/L; magnesium 1,250–1,400 mg/L
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt; specific gravity about 1.024–1.026
- Lighting
- About 200–400 PAR after gradual acclimation
- Placement / zone
- Middle to upper reef
- Filtration
- Use mature reef filtration with efficient skimming, controllable mechanical export and stable nutrient management. Do not strip nitrate and phosphate to zero, and size export and dosing for the colony’s increasing calcification and feeding demand.
- Aeration
- Provide strong whole-system gas exchange through surface movement, overflow and skimming, plus broad random circulation around all branches. Avoid narrow jets that abrade tissue or leave stagnant inner-colony zones.
- Maintenance
- Check temperature, salinity and alkalinity frequently; trend calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate; remove settled detritus; inspect tissue, skeleton, mount and neighbours after lights out; and expand clearance as the colony grows.
Identity and search names
Species-level profile for Acropora yongei. “Green slimer” is a trade name used inconsistently, so confirm identity using colony and skeletal characters plus provenance.
Search names: green slimer, Bali green slimer
Environment and housing
Provide strong multidirectional flow, high light, secure attachment and enough open space for rapid branch and thicket development.
Social structure: Sessile colonial coral
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Photosynthesis, dissolved nutrients and capture of very fine plankton
Feeding routine: Maintain stable measurable nutrients; optional fine feeding only if water quality remains stable
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Sexual spawning occurs in nature; aquarium propagation is by fragmentation of healthy pest-free colonies.
Parental care: None
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Species-level profile for Acropora yongei. “Green slimer” is a trade name used inconsistently, so confirm identity using colony and skeletal characters plus provenance.
- Adult size and space
- Natural colonies can exceed 2 m across. Use at least 200 L, provide substantial branch clearance and plan for regular pruning before flow becomes restricted.
- Colony size and space
- Natural colonies can exceed 2 m across. Use at least 200 L, provide substantial branch clearance and plan for regular pruning before flow becomes restricted.
- Social structure
- Sessile colonial animal. The colony expands by polyp growth and must be managed as one growing territorial unit rather than as an isolated frag.
- Aggression and spacing
- Direct aggression is low, but rapid growth, contact and shading can damage neighbours. Allow 15–25 cm or more plus future growth.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Middle to upper reef with secure attachment and strong flow through the full colony.
- Placement zone
- Middle to upper reef with secure attachment and strong flow through the full colony.
- Feeding ecology
- Photosynthetic, with dissolved nutrient uptake and capture of very fine plankton.
- Feeding plan
- Maintain low but measurable nitrate and phosphate. Optional fine feeding must not increase detritus or destabilise chemistry.
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–27 °C, pH 8.0–8.4, salinity 33–35 ppt, alkalinity 7–9 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L and magnesium 1,250–1,400 mg/L with minimal daily variation.
- Habitat structure
- Provide strong broad turbulent flow and gradual acclimation to about 200–400 PAR. Prune before dense branches block circulation.
- Compatibility plan
- Keep away from aggressive corals, prevent shading and preserve flow access as all colonies grow.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Fragment only healthy pest-free tissue with clean tools. Retain lineage and identification information with each fragment.
- Propagation plan
- Fragment only healthy pest-free tissue with clean tools. Retain lineage and identification information with each fragment.
- Quarantine
- Inspect for Acropora-eating flatworms and eggs, red bugs, nudibranchs and tissue recession in a separate stable system.
- Quarantine and pest inspection
- Inspect for Acropora-eating flatworms and eggs, red bugs, nudibranchs and tissue recession in a separate stable system.
- Welfare checks
- Check polyp extension, colour, base tissue, inner-branch circulation, pests, bleaching and rapid tissue loss.
- Biosecurity and release
- Use documented legal provenance. Verify BICON, Live Import List, CITES and state rules. Never release coral, fragments, pests or aquarium water.
- Biosecurity, sourcing and release
- Use documented legal provenance. Verify BICON, Live Import List, CITES and state rules. Never release coral, fragments, pests or aquarium water.
- Main risk
- Rapid growth can hide pests, block flow and shade other corals.
- Adult projected load
- As colony surface area increases, calcification demand, night-time respiration, space use, detritus interception and optional feeding load all rise. Plan dosing, gas exchange, nutrient export and physical access for the mature colony rather than the purchased fragment.
- Filtration
- Use mature reef filtration with efficient skimming, controllable mechanical export and stable nutrient management. Do not strip nitrate and phosphate to zero, and size export and dosing for the colony’s increasing calcification and feeding demand.
- Aeration
- Provide strong whole-system gas exchange through surface movement, overflow and skimming, plus broad random circulation around all branches. Avoid narrow jets that abrade tissue or leave stagnant inner-colony zones.
- Maintenance
- Check temperature, salinity and alkalinity frequently; trend calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate; remove settled detritus; inspect tissue, skeleton, mount and neighbours after lights out; and expand clearance as the colony grows.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not ignore progressive tissue recession, bleaching, exposed skeleton, pest evidence or direct coral contact. A knowledgeable user may use different light, flow, spacing or dosing methods only after gradual acclimation and documented stability show that the colony is not being damaged.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Keep clear of aggressive corals and prevent contact, shading and flow obstruction.
Welfare: Check base tissue, inner branches and flow pathways because dense growth can hide recession, pests and detritus.
Main warning: The trade name green slimer is not proof of species identity, and growth can rapidly obstruct flow or shade nearby corals.
Biosecurity and release
Use legally sourced, traceable and pest-free stock. Check BICON, the Live Import List, CITES and state rules. Never release coral, fragments, pests or aquarium water.