Walt Disney Tenuis (Acropora tenuis) - complete buy guide + identification

Curated by the Fast Aquatics editorial team · Updated May 2026 · Sources

The Walt Disney Tenuis is the most prized SPS cultivar in the modern reef hobby. Originated by BigRCorals (Mike Biggar) - a rainbow gradient morph of Acropora tenuis with red base, green polyps, blue tips, and pink-purple pigment. Frags trade for $200-400 per polyp. Mini colonies clear $1,500.

Identification - is it really a Walt Disney?

Authentic Walt Disney has a documented frag chain back to BigRCorals. Signature traits:

Rainbow gradient body. Red base, transitioning through orange + gold to green polyps + blue tips. Knockoffs often have only one or two of these colors.
Pink-purple lateral pigment. Visible under blue actinic + white. Adult colonies show distinct purple tone in the corallites.
Polyp extension. Walt Disney polyps relax visibly during the day. A specimen that stays clamped may be stressed or knockoff.
Growth form. Tenuis-form: thick branches, well-spaced corallites, table-like growth pattern as the colony matures.

Ask the seller for the frag-chain provenance. Reputable vendors track lineage back to BigRCorals or a known intermediate breeder.

Pricing (2026)

Single polyp frag: $200-400 depending on color saturation + polyp count.

2-3 polyp frag: $400-800.

Mini colony (5-10 polyps): $800-1,500.

Show colony (15+ polyps): $1,500-3,000+.

Prices fluctuate seasonally. Frag swaps + Live Sale events sometimes sell at 20-30% under retail.

Care requirements

Walt Disney is parameter-sensitive Acropora tenuis. Required conditions:

PAR: 250-400 (high light)
Flow: Strong indirect (alternating MP10/MP40 powerheads)
Alkalinity: 7.5-9 dKH (stable - drift kills SPS first)
Calcium: 400-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
Nitrate: 2-10 ppm (not zero - SPS needs detectable nitrogen)
Phosphate: 0.02-0.10 ppm
Temperature: 76-78F (stable)

Quarantine the frag for AEFW + red bugs before adding to display. Bayer + Acropower 1 dip is the standard quarantine protocol.

Where to buy

Fast Aquatics aggregates Walt Disney listings from BigRCorals, World Wide Corals, Battle Corals, Jason Fox, and other charter vendors. Each listing carries an originator-credit badge so you can verify the frag chain.

Browse Walt Disney Tenuis listings

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Walt Disney Tenuis so expensive?

Limited supply + collector demand. The lineage is held by BigRCorals + a small frag chain. Each frag takes 6-12 months to grow to fragable size from a parent colony. Color saturation degrades in less-than-ideal conditions, so authenticated stable specimens command premium.

Will my Walt Disney lose its color?

Yes if parameters drift. Walt Disney loses the rainbow gradient first - typically reverting to a uniform pink or red within 30-60 days of alkalinity drift or excess nitrate. Stable parameters + established system + appropriate light intensity preserve coloration.

Best alternative to Walt Disney Tenuis?

See the full Acropora cultivar guide for similar-tier rainbow tenuis morphs. Pink Lemonade ($80-200), Cherry Bomb ($100-180), Reef Raft Krak ($120-250) all hit similar color profiles at lower price points.