Long-Polyp Flowerpot Coral
Goniopora stokesi
Also known as Flowerpot Coral, Daisy Coral, Anemone Coral, Ball Coral, Stokes Goniopora
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
- 26 gal (100 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Origin
- Found on soft sediment and lagoon floors across the Indo-Pacific, often living free rather than cemented to reef.
- Family
- Poritidae
Overview
This is a notoriously difficult coral that has historically died within months even in good tanks, so attempt it only in a mature, stable 100 liter or larger reef. It wants low to moderate light around 80 to 150 PAR, moderate indirect flow, and rock steady parameters, with any swing in alkalinity or nutrients setting it back. Frequent feeding of fine plankton and amino acids several times a week improves its odds. Set it on the sand with space around it and do not move it once it settles.
In the wild
A flowerpot coral that extends a dense head of long, waving polyps, each tipped with a ring of 24 tentacles around a central mouth, so the whole colony looks like a bed of small daisies. It typically forms a rounded, free-living ball that sits on sand rather than fixing to rock. Colors run from green and brown to pink and cream. When the polyps are out the skeleton is completely hidden by the swaying stalks.
Good to know
Goniopora stokesi is a large polyp stony coral in the family Poritidae with 24 tentacles per polyp, a count used to tell it from the similar Alveopora, which has 12. It is unusual in producing free-floating daughter colonies, small buds that detach and grow into new balls. Despite hosting zooxanthellae it has a long, poor track record in captivity.
Did you know
It reproduces by budding off little floating daughter colonies, yet it remains one of the hardest corals to keep alive long term, a frustrating combination for keepers.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- AlgaeBarn Copepods, macroalgae and captive-bred marine livestock
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Long-Polyp Flowerpot Coral?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Short-Polyp Flowerpot Coral
Goniopora columna7.9 in (20 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Flowerpot Coral
Goniopora9.8 in (25 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Porites
Porites13.8 in (35 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Alveopora Coral
Alveopora7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Duncan Coral
Duncanopsammia axifuga7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Green Star Polyps
Pachyclavularia violacea7.9 in (20 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)