TankBud

Caribbean doughnut coral

Scolymia cubensis

Also known as Caribbean Scoly, Atlantic Disk Coral, Solitary Disk Coral, Artichoke Coral, Caribbean Button Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Caribbean doughnut coral (Scolymia cubensis)
Jessica Rosenkrantz · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–81°F
23–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Mussidae
Origin
Native to Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs, recorded from Bermuda, Jamaica, the wider Caribbean, and Brazil, often on shaded slopes and channels.

Overview

The Caribbean doughnut coral is a solitary disc coral for a shaded spot low in a reef tank. It is a step up from the easiest corals.

Did you know

Unlike the colonial brain corals, the Caribbean doughnut coral is one big, fleshy polyp. It is not a coral you frag. A healthy specimen in deep red or green is treated as a collector centerpiece instead.

Caring for the Caribbean doughnut coral

Place the Caribbean doughnut coral on the sand bed of a reef tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). Give it low to moderate light and weak flow, mirroring the shaded slopes it comes from. Keep it off strong current and away from taller corals that would shade or sting it.

Hold steady reef chemistry, at 73 to 81°F (23 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, with stable alkalinity. It hosts zooxanthellae but supplements light with active feeding. It benefits from regular feeding of mysis and small meaty foods, dropped onto the polyp in the evening.

Good to know

Scolymia cubensis is a Caribbean member of the family Mussidae. It is distinct from the Indo-Pacific corals once also called scolymias, which are now placed in Homophyllia and Lobophyllia. Its single disc is flat to cupped, usually rusty red, green or beige with a contrasting mouth, and some have a second mouth. The disc inflates over its skeleton during the day. The IUCN lists it as a threatened species, so aquarium specimens are usually aquacultured or collected under Atlantic harvest limits. That keeps it uncommon in the trade.

In the wild

The Caribbean doughnut coral is native to Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs, recorded from Bermuda, Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and Brazil. It lives loose or lightly attached on sloping reef and muddy channels, often in dimmer, sheltered spots.

Common questions

What size tank does a Caribbean doughnut coral need?

A Caribbean doughnut coral needs at least 20 gal (75 L).

What temperature and pH does a Caribbean doughnut coral need?

A Caribbean doughnut coral is comfortable at 73–81°F (23–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a Caribbean doughnut coral eat?

A Caribbean doughnut coral hosts zooxanthellae, but it supplements light with active feeding. Feed it mysis and small meaty foods regularly, dropped onto the polyp in the evening.

How big does a Caribbean doughnut coral get?

An adult Caribbean doughnut coral reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

Related species