TankBud

Frogspawn coral

Fimbriaphyllia divisa

Also known as Euphyllia divisa, Grape Coral, Octopus Coral, Euphyllia Frogspawn

SaltwaterCoral

Frogspawn coral (Fimbriaphyllia divisa)
Gdiggers · CC BY-SA 3.0

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
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Euphylliidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific

Overview

The frogspawn coral is a large polyp stony coral for a reef tank, and one of the easier Euphyllia. It is a good first LPS for a keeper with a little experience.

Did you know

Frogspawn gets so much energy from its symbiotic algae that many hobbyists never feed it at all. It still grows well.

Caring for the frogspawn coral

Give frogspawn moderate light near 100 to 125 PAR and low to moderate indirect flow. Too much flow makes it retract its tentacles. Place it on lower to middle rockwork in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L), with clearance from other corals.

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Frogspawn gets much of its nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, unlike hungrier LPS. It is a reluctant feeder that often refuses food, and it does fine fed only about once a week.

At night it extends sweeper tentacles roughly 6 to 8 inches to defend its territory and catch food. Leave at least 6 inches around it, and watch the downstream side, where the sweepers drift. It gets along with other Euphyllia. Fragging along the branches is the usual way to propagate it.

Good to know

The frogspawn coral, Fimbriaphyllia divisa, belongs to the family Euphylliidae and is also known as Euphyllia divisa. It is closely related to hammer and torch coral. It is also sold as the grape coral or the octopus coral.

In the wild

Frogspawn coral is found on reefs across the Indo-Pacific. It is named for its branching tentacles, which end in rounded, split tips that look like a mass of frog eggs.

Common questions

What size tank does a frogspawn coral need?

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

What temperature and pH does a frogspawn coral need?

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

What does a frogspawn coral eat?

A frogspawn coral gets much of its nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae. It often refuses food and does fine fed only about once a week.

How big does a frogspawn coral get?

An adult frogspawn coral reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species