Torch Coral

Care at a glance

Overview

The most aggressive of the common Euphyllia, its sweepers will sting soft corals, zoanthids and other LPS, so keep about 6 inches of open space around it. Torches do not sting other torches. It draws energy from its zooxanthellae and can be spot fed to help it grow. It is more particular about steady water chemistry than most beginner LPS. Propagated by fragging.

In the wild

Torch corals grow on Indo-Pacific reefs and are named for the long flowing tentacles that end in a bright contrasting tip, giving each polyp a torch-like look. They do best under moderate light around 80 to 150 PAR with moderate, indirect flow that keeps the tentacles gently swaying. Place them on lower to middle rockwork with room around them. Keep temperature 24 to 27 C and pH 8.1 to 8.4, and prioritise stable parameters, since torches are more sensitive to swings than hammer or frogspawn.

Good to know

Euphyllia glabrescens is a large polyp stony coral whose polyps each sit on a separate tube of skeleton rather than sharing a wall. Like other Euphyllia it deploys sweeper tentacles armed with nematocysts that can reach several inches at night. It is considered the most aggressive of the commonly kept Euphyllia.

Did you know

Torch coral prices exploded in the hobby over the past decade, with certain named color morphs like the Indo Gold Torch fetching hundreds of dollars per head.

Related species

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  Frogspawn Coral

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  7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

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  Hammer Coral

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  Elegance Coral

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  Galaxy Coral

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  Acan Coral

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• 

  Candy Cane Coral

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