Eucheuma sp. — Reef Spine Eucheuma
Give your reef some backbone.
What You Get
A hand-collected portion of Eucheuma featuring thick, irregular, spine-like branchlets radiating from a central holdfast. Though it is always found attached to rocky bottom or structure, colors range from olive to bronze to deep reddish-brown depending on depth and lighting. Growth form also shifts with conditions. Higher light and stronger, consistent flow produce tighter, more compact branching, while lower light or gentler flow result in longer, looser, more open spines. No matter what, the texture is firm and rubbery; sturdy enough for curious grazers but still flexible in flow.
Once settled in an aquarium, growth is slow but steady under stable reef conditions. For best results, secure the base into rockwork, and keep nutrients detectable rather than ultra-low. Color often deepens under brighter lighting.
Why It Is Algaesome
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Prickly personality: Spine-like branching adds instant texture to your aquascape.
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Low-value snack: Most herbivores show little interest, making it a reliable display macro.
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Built-in experiment: watch light and flow sculpt its branching over time
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Easy keeper: Adaptable, forgiving, and well-suited to hobbyists of all experience levels.
Sizing & Availability
Average specimen size is ~3–5″ across. Because this species appears in both compact and loose forms in the wild, we do our best to include one of each when available, Eucheuma spinosum is seasonal due to patchy distribution.
Traits
Color Olive, bronze, or reddish-brown
Ease Easy
Classification Red Macroalgae
Nutrient Uptake Fair
Availability Seasonal / Patchy
Use Display
Lighting Moderate (color improves in brighter light)
Flow Moderate–High
A Note from the Collectors:
Every macroalga we offer is hand-collected, acclimated, and observed by our team before shipping. While we carefully try to remove other algae, sponges, and tiny hitchhikers, it’s possible that a few “goodies” from the reef may tag along. It's a natural part of receiving genuine wild-collected specimens!
Many species may arrive paler or whitish in color. This is completely normal. Macroalgae shift their pigments inward during transport to protect from light and stress; color returns within a few days under good aquarium lighting and flow.
We ship via 2-Day service on Mondays and Tuesdays only to ensure specimens arrive healthy. You’ll receive a notification with tracking information as soon as your order ships.
