Orange Bowerbanki

The Orange Bowerbanki (Acanthastrea bowerbanki) is a vibrant, warm-toned LPS specimen prized for its rich color saturation and massive, pillow-like polyp heads. Distinct from smaller Micromussa species, this morph develops thick, fleshy corallites that inflate into dense cushions of soft tissue over a heavy skeletal base.

It features an intense, glowing tangerine to fiery copper-orange oral disc, often accentuated by subtle radial striping in mint-green, pale yellow, or cream, surrounding a deeply recessed, contrasting center mouth.

Coloration: Fiery tangerine to bright molten-orange disc, highlighted with soft radial streaks of mint-green, pink, or yellow, surrounding a contrasting cream or dark oral center.

Growth Pattern: Encrusting / Massive (builds a dense, heavy skeletal structure covered by large, thick, tightly packed fleshy polyps). WYSIWYG.

Lighting: Low to Moderate (PAR 75–125).

Water Flow: Low to Gentle (Low, sweeping indirect current).

Feeding: Highly receptive to target feeding; extends a ring of feeder tentacles at night to capture mysis shrimp, chopped brine, and high-grade LPS pellets.

Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressive (can extend short sweeper tentacles and release mesenterial filaments if touching non-Acanthastrea corals).

Care Level: Moderate (Requires consistent water parameters to maintain its thick, plush tissue folds).