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The scientific name of the sea bubble
coral is Plerogyra; this marine creature is a member of the
Scleractinia order, the Zoantharia class, the Phylum Cnidaria
kingdom. What gives the name of this coral is its protective
shape. The vesicles that cover the skeleton give the bubble
aspect of the coral and also protect it during the day and
retract it during the night. The sea bubble coral is about 5
centimeters tall and has a diameter of less than 50 centimeters.
This coral has a white and hard skeleton made from calcium
carbonate and the septa, which are the skeleton's extension, are
leafy and smooth. The skeleton of the sea bubble coral can be
seen only when the polyps that cover the skeleton are deflated.
The polyps that cover the coral's skeleton are large, yellow or
white. Other corals that reach the sea bubbles coral can be harm
by its sweeper tentacles. In the waters of the Egypt's Red Sea,
the bubble coral can be met in the reefs, on a cave or vertical
surface. The ones who want to keep a sea bubble coral in
aquarium have to know that they must feed the coral once a week
with meaty food like shrimps. It is necessary for the coral to
have enough space for its swapper tentacles that may be long,
and also, the lighting level and the water have to be both
moderate. If the water's level is high, the coral will not be
able to expand. For a healthy development of the coral
skeleton it is necessary to maintain a right level of calcium as
well as the addition in the water of some other trace elements
such as strontium. A special attention must be paid to the
coral`s polyps that are fragile. |
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