Successful Sexual Propagation of Acanthophyllia deshayesiana

Successful Sexual Propagation of A. deshayesiana

​Acanthophyllia deshayesiana are large, solitary-polyp stony corals that are known for their fluffy flesh and array of vibrant colors. They are eye-catching corals, and a species that many aquarists aspire to own.
 
For most corals, asexual propagation (i.e., fragmentation) is the easiest and fastest method of farming. However, for solitary-polyp corals like A. deshayesiana, asexual propagation is more challenging, theoretically making them better candidates to attempt to farm via sexual propagation.
 
Sexual propagation is significantly more difficult than asexual propagation, which is why many aquaculturists do not attempt this coral farming method. Everything needs to be perfect to encourage broodstock corals to spawn and larvae to settle. Factors such as specific lunar cycles, light intensity, water motion, etc. (usually mimicking the coral’s native environment) need to be refined in order to successfully illicit coral spawning.

Acanthopyllia deshayesiana
Photo credit: ​© ACI Aquaculture

After receiving news that wild collection of A. deshayesiana from Indonesia would be ceasing at the end of the 2024 quota, a small group of ambitious aquaculturists decided to collaborate in an attempt to be the first to successfully sexually propagate these challenging corals. In fall of 2023, Don Gilson and Dr. Lu Shao from Inter-Fish Pty Ltd, Keri O’Neil from the Florida Aquarium, Amanda Meckley and Chris Meckley from ACI Aquaculture, Shane Lafreniere from 24/7 Aquariums, and Richard Back from the Afishionado Channel began their collaborative effort to sexually propagate A. deshayesiana.
 
After months of preparation and refinement of broodstock systems, repeated gametogenesis checks (to confirm maturation of the eggs/sperm of the hermaphroditic A. deshayesiana), and nightly checks for broadcast spawns, finally in early 2024 they had success! The A. deshayesiana broodstock at Inter-Fish Pty Ltd were the first to spawn, followed by Keri O’Neil’s, and finally the broodstock at ACI Aquaculture.

Assisting with the Sexual Propagation of A. deshayesiana at ACI Aquaculture

​The A. deshayesiana broodstock at ACI Aquaculture spawned twice in January 2024 (on the 14th and 17th days following the December 27th full moon), and I was honored to be able to assist Amanda and Chris with collecting the eggs from the second spawn. On January 10th around 7:30 in the evening, Chris excitedly called saying to come down to ACI because there were “more babies!”. I hurriedly jumped in the car and headed to ACI.
 
Amanda’s and Chris’ pure excitement from finally having successfully spawned A. deshayesiana was infectious. The spawn that I helped collect eggs from was the larger of the two spawns at ACI, and it took a while to carefully collect all of the eggs and transfer them to holding bins. Afterwards, we looked at some of the eggs under a microscope and confirmed that many were fertilized. In fact, several were already developing into motile planula larvae before our eyes.

A. deshayesiana spawn at ACI Aquaculture
© Aquaholic Aquaculture

Now, almost two months later, I just stopped in to check on the settled “baby” A. deshayesiana that reside at ACI. Already they are starting to look like their parent corals, taking on a fluffy-fleshy appearance and starting to show color from their rapidly growing population of zooxanthellae.
 
It’s difficult to describe how incredible it was to even just be a small part of this experience – how awe-inspiring it was to see the birth of a coral. I’ve worked with live coral for almost two decades but never have had the privilege to witness something like what I saw at ACI Aquaculture. I am so grateful to both Amanda and Chris for including me.

Acanthopyllia deshayesiana
Photo credit: ​© ACI Aquaculture

Congrats to everyone who was involved in making the sexual propagation of A. deshayesiana in captivity a reality. Your dedication to aquaculture and your success with A. deshayesiana helps inspire and promote captive-bred corals and paves the way for a sustainable future.