Category: Coral | Saltwater & Reef

Class Anthozoa, Subclass Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia, Family Acroporidae, Genus Acropora Common names: staghorn coral, table coral, branching or plating Acropora Natural origin: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean Sensitivity (Level 3 to 4): Acropora species are relatively intolerant of unstable and less than ideal conditions. Sensitivity varies widely depending on the particular species and whether wild or aquacultured. To… Read more »

Class Anthozoa, Subclass Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia, Family Mussidea, Genera Acanthastrea Common names: moon coral, acan Natural origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 2): Care difficulty for these corals depends on species, but most are generally tolerant and forgiving when healthy. Feeding: These corals have strong prey capture ability. In addition to feeding tentacles, these corals are also… Read more »

Pocillopora (and Stylophora) Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia, Family Pocilloporidae, Genera Pocillopora and Stylophora Common names: cauliflower coral Natural origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 3 to 4): These corals can be quite sensitive and intolerant of unstable conditions. Though not impossible to keep, they require experienced care and well established aquariums. Feeding: Small polyp corals, they have… Read more »

Class Anthozoa, Order Alcyonacea, Family Clavulariidae, Genera Cornularia and Clavularia Common names: clove polyp coral, clove coral, eight tentacle polyps Natural origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 1): These are usually very tolerant and forgiving corals. Feeding: The coral’s feathery polyp tentacles help it catch food suspended in water. They feed on foods of smaller particle size…. Read more »

Class Anthozoa, Order Alcyonacea, Family Tubiporidae, Genus Tubipora Common names: pipe organ coral, organpipe coral Natural origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 3 to 4): These corals can be difficult to keep because they are difficult to feed. They tend to fair better in established aquariums with well populated sand beds. The manner of collection may be… Read more »

Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia, Family Faviidae, Genus Caulastrea Common Names: torch coral, candy cane coral, candy coral, trumpet coral, bullseye coral, cat’s eye coral Natural Origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 1 to 2): Though sensitivity will depend somewhat on the individual coral, most are quite tolerant and forgiving. Feeding: These corals have impressive prey capture ability…. Read more »

Class Anthozoa, Order Scleractinia, Family Pectiniidae, Genera Echinophyllia, Oxypora, Mycedium and Pectinia Common Names: chalice coral Natural Origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 2 to 3): Though not exactly beginner corals, most are tolerant and forgiving. Please note that they have delicate skeletons that break easily. Handle with care. Feeding: Most species feed at night with long… Read more »

Catalaphyllia (Elegance Coral) Class Anthozoa, Subclass Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia, Family Euphyllidae, Genus Catalaphyllia Common names: elegance coral Natural origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 4 to 5): While these corals were once considered generally tolerant and easy to care for they have recently been suffering from a fatal epidemic of a highly infectious disease of unknown type… Read more »

Pavona (Cactus Coral) Class Anthozoa, Subclass Hexacorallia, Order Scleractinia, Family Agariciidae Common names: cactus coral, lettuce coral, potato chip coral Natural Origin: Indo-Pacific Sensitivity (Level 2): Though scarce in the aquarium trade, these corals can be relatively forgiving and tolerant in healthy aquariums. Feeding: These are very small polyped corals. They feed on very fine… Read more »