Micromussa
LPSAlso known as Acan Lord. References and listings under these names are included here.
Micromussa lordhowensis
Acanthastrea lordhowensis is a former combination. WoRMS accepts Micromussa lordhowensis; “Acan Lord” remains a widely used trade name.
Family: Lobophylliidae
Still sold as “Acan Lord”, this is a Micromussa. Look past the colour rings to the fleshy polyps and underlying colony.
Care
Easy
Lighting
Low-Medium
Flow
Low-Medium
How to recognise it
Look for fleshy polyps over closely packed skeletal cups, with uneven cup heights and fine bumps across the tissue. The cups can be compressed sideways. Expansion hides much of this detail, so a top view alone may be inconclusive.
Similar corals
- Acan Echinata
- Typically has rounder, thick-walled cups and fleshy tissue forming concentric folds. Lordhowensis cups are often compressed and uneven in height. These are close-up structural clues, not a colour test.
- Blastomussa merleti
- Has separate small tubular cups, under 7 mm across, rather than the tightly adjoining cups of a lord colony. Inflated tissue may hide the gaps.
In the tank
Placement & flow
Start low in the tank under subdued light. Provide enough indirect flow to keep debris off without flattening the polyps.
Feeding
Offer small pieces of mysis or other suitable meaty food. Oversized food and heavy pellet feeding are poor substitutes for small portions.
Space & neighbours
Leave a gap between expanded tissue and neighbouring colonies. Judge spacing with the polyps open.
What to watch for
Watch for deflated polyps and receding tissue. Check excessive light, debris accumulation and rising nutrients before making several changes at once.
Morphs
Known variants linked to this species.
Compare morph prices
See the local asking-price benchmark, recent movement, and current listings for a specific morph.
Choose a morph above to compare its current asking prices. You can add your location after choosing one.
Available from stores
Current in-stock Micromussa listings in United Kingdom.
Orange Acan Echinata (4) WYSIWYG
Royal Reef
£119.95 GBP
Orange Acan Echinata
Royal Reef
£24.95 GBP
Orange Acan Echinata (1) WYSIWYG
Royal Reef
£169.95 GBP
Orange Acan Echinata (3) WYSIWYG
Royal Reef
£119.95 GBP
Button Cultured Acan (Acanthastrea spp)
Marine World Aquatics
£110.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aquacultured Acan Frag - 050
Kraken Corals
£100.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aussie Ultra Acan Frag - 120
Kraken Corals
£109.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aussie Ultra Acan Frag - 121
Kraken Corals
£109.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Acan Frag - 046
Kraken Corals
£40.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aquacultured Acan Frag - 048
Kraken Corals
£100.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aussie Ultra Acan Frag - 122
Kraken Corals
£109.00 GBP
WYSIWYG Aussie Rainbow Acan Frag - 118
Kraken Corals
£209.00 GBP
Sources
- Tidal Gardens — Micromussa care
- WoRMS — Micromussa lordhowensis
- Corals of the World — Lordhowensis structure (older name)
- Corals of the World — Acanthastrea echinata
- Corals of the World — Blastomussa merleti
- NOAA — Coral aquarium parameters, Table 6 (2013) (PDF)
Sources checked 14 October 2026.