Encrusting star polyps
Briareum
Also known as Star Polyps, Starburst Polyps, Corky Sea Fingers
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 7.9 in
- 20 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Briareidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs
Overview
Encrusting star polyps are a hardy, sessile octocoral that spreads fast across a reef tank. They are a good choice for beginners who keep a close eye on their spread.
Did you know
Encrusting star polyps and green star polyps are so easily confused that the trade has sold nearly identical colonies under both names for decades. Researchers still debate exactly where Pachyclavularia ends and Briareum begins.
Caring for the encrusting star polyps
Encrusting star polyps tolerate a wide light range, roughly 100 to 250 PAR. They do best with moderate to strong flow, which keeps the polyps free of settling detritus.
They need a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, though they tolerate a wide range of conditions. They get most of their energy from zooxanthellae and need no target feeding.
They have no strong stinging tentacles and will not chemically attack neighbors. Instead they compete by encrusting over slower corals, growing an inch or more a month under good conditions. They grow over any hard surface they touch, including glass. Physical isolation on their own rock or an isolated section of the aquascape is the standard control, as with green star polyps.
Good to know
Encrusting star polyps belong to the genus Briareum, an octocoral in the family Briareidae. Green star polyps, Pachyclavularia violacea, share the family, and taxonomists have at times treated the two names as synonyms. In the trade, Briareum most often shows duller brown, tan or purplish polyps on a purple-toned mat. Classic green star polyps are a saturated fluorescent green. The genus also includes Caribbean species, such as corky sea fingers, that never occur alongside the Indo-Pacific green star polyps.
In the wild
Encrusting star polyps grow across reef flats in both the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean. They encrust rock, rubble and dead coral skeletons as a thin, fleshy mat.
Common questions
What size tank do encrusting star polyps need?
Encrusting star polyps need at least 11 gal (40 L).
What temperature and pH do encrusting star polyps need?
Encrusting star polyps are comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What do encrusting star polyps eat?
Encrusting star polyps get most of their energy from zooxanthellae. They need no target feeding.
How big do encrusting star polyps get?
Encrusting star polyps reach about 7.9 in (20 cm).
Related species
7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Green star polyps
Pachyclavularia violacea
7.9 in (20 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Acan coral
Acanthastrea echinata
7.9 in (20 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Branching frogspawn coral
Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa
7.9 in (20 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Branching hammer coral
Fimbriaphyllia paraancora
7.9 in (20 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Candy cane coral
Caulastraea furcata
7.9 in (20 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Frogspawn coral
Fimbriaphyllia divisa
7.9 in (20 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)