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The Grafted Digitata Montipora (Montipora digitata) is a captivating, aquacultured small polyp stony (SPS) coral strain, particularly popularized by breeders like World Wide Corals (WWC) through their "Contraband" variant, where fragments from contrasting red/orange and green strains are fused to create a seamless, multi-hued colony that blends pigments over time via a natural "infection" of fluorescent proteins. This grafting technique results in a visually striking piece that's highly sought after in the reef aquarium hobby for its evolving colors and relatively straightforward care compared to more finicky Acropora species.
Structure: Thin, upright, finger-like branches that grow vertically in a bushy, fractal pattern, often forming dense, tabular plates from an encrusting base; branches are typically 1-2 cm thick, giving it a delicate yet expansive silhouette.
Coloration: Starts with a deep red or orange base transitioning fluidly into bright green tips and fuzzy polyps, sometimes with blue undertones or white growth edges; under actinic or blue-enriched lighting, the greens fluoresce neon-vividly, creating a glowing, multicolored "contraband" effect that intensifies with maturity.
Size and Growth: Frags are usually ½-¾ inch, with moderate to fast growth rates that can yield 4-6 inch tall colonies in 6-12 months, though the grafting process may cause initial slower establishment as colors migrate.
The Grafted Digitata Montipora (Montipora digitata) is a captivating, aquacultured small polyp stony (SPS) coral strain, particularly popularized by breeders like World Wide Corals (WWC) through their "Contraband" variant, where fragments from contrasting red/orange and green strains are fused to create a seamless, multi-hued colony that blends pigments over time via a natural "infection" of fluorescent proteins. This grafting technique results in a visually striking piece that's highly sought after in the reef aquarium hobby for its evolving colors and relatively straightforward care compared to more finicky Acropora species.
Structure: Thin, upright, finger-like branches that grow vertically in a bushy, fractal pattern, often forming dense, tabular plates from an encrusting base; branches are typically 1-2 cm thick, giving it a delicate yet expansive silhouette.
Coloration: Starts with a deep red or orange base transitioning fluidly into bright green tips and fuzzy polyps, sometimes with blue undertones or white growth edges; under actinic or blue-enriched lighting, the greens fluoresce neon-vividly, creating a glowing, multicolored "contraband" effect that intensifies with maturity.
Size and Growth: Frags are usually ½-¾ inch, with moderate to fast growth rates that can yield 4-6 inch tall colonies in 6-12 months, though the grafting process may cause initial slower establishment as colors migrate.