Kenya tree coral
Capnella
Also known as Kenya Tree, Nepthea, Tree Coral, Cauliflower Coral
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 9.8 in
- 25 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Nephtheidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific reefs
Overview
The Kenya tree coral is a hardy, fast-growing soft coral that many keepers treat as a starter coral. It is easy for a beginner to keep.
Did you know
Hobbyists warn that once Kenya tree coral is in a tank, you may never fully clear it.
Caring for the Kenya tree coral
Give the Kenya tree coral low to moderate light, around 50 to 150 PAR, and moderate to strong flow. The flow also helps it shed dropped branches. Place it low to mid on the rock, with room to spread, in a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L).
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is very undemanding, and it relies on zooxanthellae and absorbed nutrients rather than target feeding.
It is passive and low-sting toward its neighbors. It is one of the fastest-growing softies in the hobby, so be ready to prune it regularly. It drops small branch tips that drift off and root wherever they land, so new colonies can pop up all over the tank. To frag it, cut a branch and band it to a rock.
Good to know
Capnella is a soft octocoral in the family Nephtheidae. It is also sold as the tree coral or the cauliflower coral, and under the name Nepthea.
In the wild
Capnella grows on Indo-Pacific reefs as a bushy branching tree, with soft, polyp-tipped limbs that sway in the current.
Common questions
What size tank does a Kenya tree coral need?
A Kenya tree coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).
What temperature and pH does a Kenya tree coral need?
A Kenya tree coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a Kenya tree coral eat?
A Kenya tree coral relies on zooxanthellae and absorbed nutrients, so it does not need target feeding.
How big does a Kenya tree coral get?
An adult Kenya tree coral reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).
How does a Kenya tree coral breed?
A Kenya tree coral reproduces by dropping small branch tips, which drift off and root wherever they land. This easy self-propagation lets a single colony seed a whole tank.
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