Short-Polyp Flowerpot Coral

Care at a glance

Overview

Treat it as a step-up flowerpot coral for keepers with some large polyp stony experience, in a 100 liter or larger reef with moderate light around 100 to 200 PAR and moderate flow. Keep temperature 24 to 27 C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and stable alkalinity and nutrients. It is hardier than Goniopora stokesi but still rewards regular feeding with fine plankton and amino acids. Anchor it on rock and leave room for the polyps to open fully.

In the wild

A flowerpot coral with shorter, more compact polyps than Goniopora stokesi, growing on a columnar or mounding skeleton that fixes to rock. The polyps still wave gently and each carries a ring of tentacles around its mouth, but the overall head is tighter and less flowing. Aquacultured and Australian pieces are often bright green or two-tone. It keeps the daisy-bed look while sitting on a firmer base.

Good to know

Goniopora columna is a large polyp stony coral in the family Poritidae, named for its column-shaped growth. It is one of the sturdier flowerpot species, tolerating minor parameter swings better than the delicate long-polyp types. Like all Goniopora it hosts zooxanthellae and feeds on fine plankton.

Did you know

Aquacultured Australian flowerpot corals like this one have a much better survival record than wild long-polyp Goniopora, which spent decades with a reputation as an almost unkeepable coral.

Related species

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  Long-Polyp Flowerpot Coral

  Goniopora stokesi

  7.9 in (20 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Flowerpot Coral

  Goniopora

  9.8 in (25 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Porites

  Porites

  13.8 in (35 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Alveopora Coral

  Alveopora

  7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Duncan Coral

  Duncanopsammia axifuga

  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)75–81°F (24–27°C)