Green and Purple Maze Coral - Platygyra sp.

Green and Purple Maze Coral (Platygyra sp.)

The Green and Purple Maze Coral, Platygyra sp., is a colourful large polyp stony coral, admired for its maze-like ridges, contrasting green and purple tissue, and classic brain coral appearance. This coral adds strong pattern, texture and colour to a reef aquarium, with winding grooves that can glow beautifully under reef lighting. It is generally hardy once settled, but it should be kept in a stable, mature reef aquarium with moderate lighting, indirect flow and enough space from neighbouring corals.

Common Name:
Green and Purple Maze Coral, Maze Coral, Maze Brain Coral, Platygyra Coral, Brain Coral.

Scientific Name (Latin):
Platygyra sp.

Coral Type:
LPS Coral

Growth Form:
Massive to encrusting brain coral growth form, with raised ridges and maze-like valleys across the coral surface.

Water Type:
Marine

Origin / Natural Habitat:
Platygyra-style maze corals are found in tropical Indo-Pacific reef habitats, where they grow over hard reef surfaces, reef slopes, lagoons and coral-rich areas. In aquariums, they are best placed on stable rockwork or a secure lower-to-middle area where they have room to grow and defend themselves from neighbouring corals.

Water Parameters:
Temperature: 24–26°C
pH Range: 8.1–8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024–1.026
Alkalinity: 7–10 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
Nitrate: Low but detectable
Phosphate: Low but detectable

Lighting:
Medium
Green and Purple Maze Coral generally does well under moderate reef lighting. Avoid placing it directly under very intense lighting without acclimation, as strong light can cause fading, bleaching or tissue stress. Lower-to-middle placement with gradual light acclimation is usually safest.

Flow:
Medium
Moderate, indirect flow is ideal. Flow should be strong enough to keep the grooves clean and prevent detritus settling in the valleys, but not so harsh that the tissue is constantly blasted or unable to expand properly.

Placement:
Best placed on stable rockwork or a secure lower-to-middle area of the aquarium. Allow plenty of space around the coral, as Maze Coral can extend sweeper tentacles and may sting neighbouring corals.

Temperament / Aggression:
Semi-aggressive to aggressive
Green and Purple Maze Coral can defend its space using sweeper tentacles, especially after lights out. Keep it away from neighbouring corals to reduce the risk of coral warfare, tissue damage or stinging.

Feeding:
Photosynthetic, but benefits from feeding
This coral receives much of its energy from lighting through its symbiotic zooxanthellae, but it can benefit from occasional target feeding. Suitable foods include fine coral foods, reef roids-style foods, mysis shrimp, enriched brineshrimp and other small meaty reef foods. Feed when feeding tentacles are visible for the best response.

Growth Rate:
Slow to moderate
Growth is usually steady in stable reef systems with consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, lighting and flow. Colour and tissue health are best maintained when parameters remain stable and nutrients are not stripped too low.

Special Requirements or Care Notes:
Best kept in a mature reef aquarium with stable parameters and consistent husbandry. Avoid sudden changes in lighting, salinity, alkalinity or flow. Give the coral enough space from neighbouring corals, especially other aggressive LPS species. Dip and acclimate carefully before adding to the aquarium, and monitor for tissue recession, pests, detritus build-up or irritation from nearby corals.

Suitable for:
Beginner to Intermediate reefkeepers

Availability:
Regularly available in the coral trade / Availability can vary depending on colour intensity, pattern, supplier naming and season.

All images are a visual representation of the coral you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Please note that Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, and variation in patterns, colours and growth form will occur — that is part of the unique beauty of these animals.