Chili coral
Nephthyigorgia
Also known as Chili Pepper Coral, Red Chili Coral, Chili Cactus Coral
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Nephthyigorgiidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific, on shaded reef walls, ledges and the undersides of overhangs, common through Indonesia and the wider western Pacific
Overview
Nephthyigorgia is the true chili coral, and the hardiest of the non-photosynthetic soft corals sold under chili and carnation names. It is often suggested as a first NPS coral, ahead of the far more demanding Dendronephthya or Scleronephthya. It is best with a little experience.
Did you know
The chili coral spends most of the day looking like a shriveled red lump. It feeds at night. Once the tank lights go out, it inflates to several times its resting size and opens a fuzz of white polyps.
Caring for the chili coral
Give the chili coral low light or full shade, with medium to strong indirect flow. Place it under a ledge or in a cave where it is still easy to reach for feeding.
Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It carries no symbiotic algae and takes none of its energy from light, so it lives or dies on feeding. Target feed fine foods like phytoplankton, baby brine shrimp and other tiny plankton at least once a day. Aim the food into the flow so the polyps can catch it.
The chili coral does not sting neighbors, and it stays small. Only add it to an established tank, with a keeper ready for that daily routine and the extra waste it produces. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The chili coral, Nephthyigorgia, is a soft coral in its own family, Nephthyigorgiidae. It was long filed under Nidaliidae until the 2022 reclassification of the soft corals, which placed it in the order Malacalcyonacea. Tiny calcite sclerites stiffen its tissue and give the fleshy lobes their firmness. The trade rarely separates the species, so it is almost always sold simply as Nephthyigorgia sp.
In the wild
The chili coral grows in shaded, current-swept spots across the Indo-Pacific, and it is common through Indonesia and the wider western Pacific. It lives on reef walls, ledges and the undersides of overhangs, where little direct light reaches. It forms a stout, fleshy stalk with thick, finger-like lobes, usually deep red.
Common questions
What size tank does a chili coral need?
A chili coral needs at least 20 gal (75 L).
What temperature and pH does a chili coral need?
A chili coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does a chili coral eat?
A chili coral lives or dies on feeding, since it takes none of its energy from light. Feed it phytoplankton, baby brine shrimp and other tiny plankton at least once a day.
How big does a chili coral get?
An adult chili coral reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
Related species
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