Red Dragon Acropora
A variant of Acropora coral (Acropora sp.)
Representative Acropora coralphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
An Acropora carduus ('deepwater'-type) with a deep red/maroon body and bright green polyps, growing into a fast, bushy thicket.
📜 Backstory
A famous 'dragon' Acropora prized for its intense red base. It entered the hobby as maricultured Acropora carduus colonies from Bali in the early 2000s and has been propagated widely ever since; purple, blue and golden 'dragon' variants also exist. Contrary to a common misconception it is a relatively fast grower, not a slow microclados.
Keeper tips for this variant
Demands high PAR and strong flow to deepen the red; under weak light it browns out quickly. Keep alkalinity rock-steady to avoid tip burn.
Other SPS Corals variants
Staghorn / Table Acropora (growth forms)Named designer acros (e.g. ORA, Tyree, WWC morphs)Green Slimer (Acropora yongei)Tricolor / Tricolor Valida (Acropora valida)Pink/Purple Stylophora-tip 'Strawberry Shortcake' (Acropora microclados)Walt Disney (Acropora tenuis)Red Planet (Acropora millepora)Bali/German 'Slimer' & Staghorn forms (Acropora formosa/muricata)Garf Bonsai (Acropora sp.)Strawberry Shortcake (SSC) AcroporaOregon Tort (Oregon Blue Tortuosa)Rainbow TenuisPink Lemonade AcroporaCali Tort (California Blue Tortuosa)Tierra del Fuego (TDF) AcroporaPikachu AcroporaJason Fox Homewrecker / Miyagi TortPink Cadillac AcroporaWalt DisneyStrawberry ShortcakeWWC Red ShortcakeOregon TortJason Fox HomewreckerTyree Pink LemonadeJackson's Rainbow TenuisRed PlanetMiyagi TortHawkins EchinataGARF BonsaiORA PearlberryCotton Candy TenuisVivid's Bali ShortcakeJF Fox FlameCC Pink Highlighter Tenuis