TankBud

Slipper coral

Polyphyllia talpina

Also known as Tongue Coral, Feather Coral, Mole Coral, Sea Mole Coral, Slipper Plate Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Slipper coral (Polyphyllia talpina)
Kate Osborne · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
15.7 in
40 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Fungiidae
Origin
Lives free on sand and rubble between Indo-Pacific reefs, from the Indian Ocean through the western Pacific.

Overview

Set it on open sand in a 150 liter or larger reef with moderate light and gentle flow, keeping it off sharp rock that could cut the underside. Standard reef chemistry works, with temperature 24 to 27 C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and stable calcium and alkalinity. It is fairly easy given good placement, but it wants regular feeding of mysis and fine meaty foods dropped onto the tentacles. It can sting corals it touches, so keep a gap around it on the sand bed.

In the wild

A free-living coral shaped like an elongated slipper or tongue, covered across its whole upper surface in short shaggy tentacles that hide hundreds of tiny mouths. It sits loose on the sand rather than attaching to rock and stays flexible and low. Colors are usually tan, green, or gray with paler tentacle tips. Wild colonies can stretch to around 75 cm, though aquarium specimens are typically smaller.

Good to know

Polyphyllia talpina is a free-living member of the family Fungiidae, the same group as the round Fungia plate corals. Rather than one central mouth it has many mouths spread across the surface, a trait it shares with its close relative Herpolitha. It hosts zooxanthellae and also feeds through the dense carpet of tentacles.

Did you know

Every one of the shaggy tentacles covers its own tiny mouth, so the whole top surface of the coral is essentially one big feeding sheet.

Common questions

What size tank does a Slipper coral need?

A Slipper coral needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Slipper coral need?

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

How big does a Slipper coral get?

An adult Slipper coral reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).

Related species