Pacman
WYSIWYGAcropora carduus
This stunning Pacman Acropora carduus displays an incredible rich purple base, with perfectly contrasting neon gold tips.
Every carduus we offer is carefully conditioned in our systems to promote strength and stability before sale. For best results, introduce new frags to higher lighting gradually to support lasting colour and healthy growth.
You will receive the exact coral seen in the image.
This variant is currently out of stock.
Care Requirements
Difficulty
Advanced
PAR
250-450
Light
High
Flow
High
Feeding
Not Required
Temperament
Peaceful
Live Arrival
Guaranteed
Fast Dispatch
Mon - Fri
Frequently Asked Questions
Acropora Coral
How do I care for Acropora carduus?
Upper tank with strong light and flow. They grow upward so give them headroom. Start lower and move up over 2-4 weeks for acclimation.
Carduus look amazing once they start branching upward - really fills out nicely. Slow light acclimation, stable params, and don't chase zero nutrients. Keep some nitrate (5-10ppm) and phosphate (0.03-0.1ppm) for best colour.
Same as any acro - don't skip light acclimation. Start mid-tank and work your way up over a few weeks.
Upward branching growth, vibrant colour, polyps out during the day. New growth tips pushing out at the ends of branches.
Are Acropora carduus suitable for beginners?
These are for experienced reefers. Acropora carduus need a mature tank with spot-on water quality.
Best kept once you've got some experience and your parameters are rock solid. We're talking stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium, with no big swings. A tank that's been running for 6+ months is ideal.
That said, our acropora carduus are settled in our facility first, so they're as hardy as they can be when they reach you.
What tank parameters do you keep your coral in?
We keep all our coral in stable, proven parameters. These are tried and tested - our coral thrives in these conditions and will transition smoothly to similar setups.
Magnesium
1400
Alkalinity
8.4 dKH
Calcium
430-440
Phosphate
0.05-0.1
Nitrate
10-20
Do you ship Acropora carduus to my area?
Yes, we deliver UK-wide - from Cornwall to Scotland and everywhere in between.
All orders are packed in insulated boxes with heat packs during colder months to maintain stable temperatures during transit.
We ship throughout the week via Royal Mail Guaranteed or DX Live Stock services to ensure your coral arrives as healthy as possible.
What's your live arrival guarantee?
Every order comes with our live arrival guarantee.
If anything arrives dead or dying, send us a photo within 2 hours of delivery and we'll sort a replacement or refund - no arguing, no hassle.
We're confident in this because we settle and aquaculture all our coral in-house before it's ever listed. You're not getting stressed imports that might not make it through the first week.
Our coral has already proven it thrives in captivity before it reaches you.
How should I acclimate Acropora carduus when they arrive?
Important: DO NOT drip acclimate coral!
Float the sealed bag in your tank for 20-30 minutes to match the temperature. Then open the bag and place the coral straight into your tank (or dip first if you prefer).
Place low on the sandbed for the first few days so the piece can get used to your tank conditions and lighting.
Why no drip acclimation? Some ammonia buildup can occur during shipping, but due to the pH drop in the bag, it becomes non-toxic. If you slowly add tank water with higher pH, that ammonia becomes toxic again and can harm or kill the coral. Temperature matching is all you need.
Don't panic if polyps are retracted at first - they often take a day or two to fully open up after shipping.