TankBud

Cactus coral

Pavona cactus

Also known as Potato Chip Coral, Pavona, Lettuce Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Cactus coral (Pavona cactus)
Mark Forsling · CC BY-SA 4.0

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
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Agariciidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reef flats and lagoons, including Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, usually shallower than 15 meters

Overview

The cactus coral is a generally calm stony coral and one of the more forgiving SPS for a reef tank. It suits a keeper moving up from softies and LPS, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

A single cactus coral colony can grow two completely different shapes, depending on water movement. In strong flow it builds tight, chip-like plates, while a patch of the same species in calmer water spreads into a flat encrusting mat.

Caring for the cactus coral

Give the cactus coral medium light, with around 100 PAR as a reasonable target. Pushing it under intense lighting too fast can bleach the tissue. Set it on the lower to middle rockwork, away from the strongest light at the top of the tank.

It wants medium to high flow, which keeps detritus off its folded plates and encourages tighter, more upright growth. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

Feeding is optional, because it gets most of its energy from light rather than from capturing food. Its mouths are small, but it will take minced mysis or rotifers.

Its sweeper tentacles reach several inches at night. Give it real space from its neighbors rather than crowding it in.

Good to know

The cactus coral sits in the family Agariciidae alongside the lettuce and leaf corals. Its corallites lack distinct walls and share ridged septa, which connect neighboring polyps into a continuous, flower-like surface. It carries photosynthetic zooxanthellae like other reef-building corals. The trade also sells it as potato chip coral, lettuce coral or simply Pavona.

In the wild

The cactus coral grows on shallow Indo-Pacific reef flats and lagoons, including Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. It usually lives in water less than 15 meters deep. Its thin plates branch and fold back on themselves like a stack of chips.

Common questions

What size tank does a cactus coral need?

A cactus coral needs at least 20 gal (75 L).

What temperature and pH does a cactus coral need?

A cactus coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a cactus coral eat?

A cactus coral gets most of its energy from light, so feeding is optional. Its mouths are small, but it will take minced mysis or rotifers.

How big does a cactus coral get?

An adult cactus coral reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

Related species