Bubble coral
Plerogyra sinuosa
Also known as Grape Coral, Bladder Coral, Rounded Bubblegum Coral
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Plerogyridae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea, from East Africa to Fiji and north to southern Japan
Overview
The bubble coral is a reef-safe large polyp stony coral for a calm, shaded spot in a reef tank. It is easy enough for a beginner.
Did you know
The bubble coral's daytime look is almost entirely a disguise. Every evening its smooth, grape-like vesicles deflate and pull back, revealing sweeper tentacles that were hidden inside them all along.
Caring for the bubble coral
Keep the light on the low side of moderate for a bubble coral, around 100 to 150 PAR. Intense lighting can keep the bubbles from inflating properly or bleach the coral outright. Flow should be gentle, just enough to keep detritus from settling, since strong current can tear or deflate the vesicles.
Give it a shadier spot low or mid on the rockwork, in a calmer corner of the tank. Leave a few inches of open space on every side so the bubbles can inflate fully without bumping into rock or neighboring corals.
It needs at least 11 gal (40 L). Hold the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is not a demanding feeder and does fine on light alone. It will take small meaty foods such as mysis at night if offered.
At night it extends sweeper tentacles of roughly 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 cm), armed with a strong sting. Keep it clear of anything it could reach once the lights go out.
Good to know
Plerogyra sinuosa belongs to the family Plerogyridae, which was split out for the bubble corals and their close relatives. Its thin, calcified skeleton grows in winding, wall-like ridges that stay completely hidden under the daytime bubbles. The vesicles are filled with fluid rather than air. Their real job is boosting light capture for the coral's symbiotic algae.
In the wild
Plerogyra sinuosa grows in sheltered lagoons and the shaded, calmer parts of reef slopes across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. Its range runs from East Africa to Fiji and north to southern Japan.
Common questions
What size tank does a bubble coral need?
A bubble coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).
What temperature and pH does a bubble coral need?
A bubble coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a bubble coral eat?
A bubble coral does fine on light alone and is not a demanding feeder. It will take small meaty foods such as mysis at night if you offer them.
How big does a bubble coral get?
An adult bubble coral reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
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