Pavona cactus Leaf Coral, Cactus Coral

Pavona cactus is commonly referred to as Leaf Coral, Cactus Coral. Difficulty in the aquarium: Easy. A aquarium size of at least 150 Liter is recommended. Toxicity: Toxic hazard unknown.

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Pavona cactus, Copyright Muelly

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lexID:: 587
AphiaID:: 207312

Scientific:: Pavona cactus
German:: Kaktus-Koralle, Großpolypige Steinkoralle
English:: Leaf Coral, Cactus Coral

Category:: Sten koraller LPS

Family tree:: Animalia (Kingdom) > Cnidaria (Phylum) > Anthozoa (Class) > Scleractinia (Order) > Agariciidae (Family) > Pavona (Genus) > cactus (Species)
Initial determination:: (Forskål, ), 1775

Occurrence:: Djibouti, Sudan, American Samoa, Australia, China, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Gulf of Oman / Oman, India, Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marschall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico (East Pacific), Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Réunion , Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tansania, Thailand, the Cocos Islands / Keeling Islands, the Seychelles, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam
Marine Zone:: Subtidal, sublittoral, infralittoral, deep zone of the oceans from the lower limit of the intertidal zone (intertidal) to the shelf edge at about 200 m water depth. neritic.
Sea depth:: 0 - 40 Meter
Habitats:: Hemming reefs, Lagoons, Protected reefs, Reef slopes, Seawater, Sea water
Size:: up to 393.7" (1000 cm)
Temperature:: 75.2 °F - 82.4 °F (24°C - 28°C)
Food:: Dissolved inorganic substances) f.e.NaCL,CA, Mag, K, I.P, CO2, Dissolved organic substances, Plankton, Zooxanthellae / Light
Tank:: 33 gal (~ 150L)
Difficulty:: Easy
Offspring:: Possible to breed
Toxicity:: Toxic hazard unknown

CITES:

Appendix II ((commercial trade possible after a safety assessment by the exporting country))

Red List:

Vulnerable (VU)

Related species at Catalog of Life:

More related species in this lexicon:

Author:: Meerwasser-Lexikon Team
Publisher:: Meerwasser-Lexikon.de
Created:: 2004-09-10 12:54:34
Last edit:: 2026-03-10 20:43:44

Captive breeding / propagation

The offspring of Pavona cactus are possible. Unfortunately, the number of offspring is not large enough to cover the demand of the trade. If you are interested in Pavona cactus, please ask your dealer for offspring. If you already own Pavona cactus, try breeding yourself. This will help to improve the availability of offspring in the trade and to conserve natural stocks.

Info

Pavona cactus (Forskål, 1775)

The Cactus Coral has a brown, green, tan, yellow color. It likes to eat filter feeding invert food, brine shrimp, micro-plankton a few times per week, when open. The Pavona cactus is generally peaceful toward other tankmates. Many consider the Pavona cactus a high-maintenance specimen. Has strong lighting needs.

Synonymised names
Agaricia boletiformis (Esper, 1791) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Leptoseris venusta (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris boletiformis (Esper, 1791) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris cactus (Forskål, 1775) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Lophoseris cristata Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris cristata (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris knorri Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris laxa (Klunzinger, 1879) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Lophoseris venusta (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Madrepora boletiformis Esper, 1791 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Madrepora cactus Forskål, 1775 · unaccepted > superseded combination (basionym)
Madrepora cristata Ellis & Solander, 1786 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Matrepora boletiformis (Esper, 1791) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Mycedium cristata (Ellis & Solander, 1768) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavona cristata (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavona formosa Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavona laxa Klunzinger, 1879 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavona praetorta (Dana, 1846) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavona venusta Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia (Lophoseris) cristata (Lamarck, 1816) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia boletiformis (Esper, 1791) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia cactus (Forskål, 1775) · unaccepted > superseded combination
Pavonia cristata (Milne Edwards & Haime, 1851) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia cristata Lamarck, 1816 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia cristata (Ellis & Solander, 1786) · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia formosa Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia praetorta Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym
Pavonia venusta Dana, 1846 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym

Korallenriff Magazin

Ausgabe #18
Das Aqua-Porträt

Ein Bericht, der zeigen soll, wie wenig notwendig ist, um ein schönes Riffbecken zu pflegen. Eigentlich sollte nach einem Umzug meine Reise in die Welt der Meerwasseraquaristik und in der Aquaristik generell enden.

External links

Corals of the World (en). Abgerufen am 10.03.2026.

Stockliste

Tip: Wenn Sie in Ihrem Profil Ihre PLZ angeben, werden die Händler nach der Entfernung zu Ihnen sortiert.

Pictures

Commonly

Pavona cactus - Macroaufnahme , Copyright Muelly

Pavona cactus, East Timor 2025 (CC-BY-SA)

Husbandry know-how of owners

FrankZ
@FrankZ

am 28.10.08#4

Eine sehr schnell wachsende Steinkoralle,die leider bei Berührung schnell bricht,aber jedes kleine Bruchstück wächst wider zu einer schönen
Koralle heran.So habe ich schon den einen oder anderen Ableger unfreiwillig gewonnen und auch weiter gegeben.

Benjamin
@Benjamin

am 22.03.07#3

Nachtrag : " Bitte haltet mit dieser Steinkoralle genügend Abstand zu anderen SPS - Korallen . Meine Cactuskoralle vernesselt selbst die als durchsetzungsfähig bekannten Montiporas . "