TankBud

Torch coral

Euphyllia glabrescens

Also known as Euphyllia Torch, Pom Pom Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Torch coral (Euphyllia glabrescens)
Josuevg · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Euphylliidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific

Overview

The torch coral is a large polyp stony coral for a stable, established reef. It is a step up from the easiest corals.

Did you know

Torch coral prices exploded in the hobby over the past decade. Named color morphs such as the Indo Gold Torch can fetch hundreds of dollars per head.

Caring for the torch coral

Give the torch coral moderate light around 80 to 150 PAR and moderate, indirect flow that keeps the tentacles gently swaying. Place it on lower to middle rockwork, with room around it, in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L).

Hold the temperature at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and the pH at 8.1 to 8.4, and keep every parameter stable. Torches are more particular about steady water chemistry than most beginner LPS, and more sensitive to swings than hammer or frogspawn. The torch coral draws energy from its zooxanthellae, and you can spot feed it to help it grow.

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, so they are fine kept together. Torch corals are propagated by fragging.

Good to know

The torch coral, Euphyllia glabrescens, belongs to the family Euphylliidae. Each polyp sits 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.

In the wild

Torch corals grow on reefs across the Indo-Pacific. They are named for their long, flowing tentacles, each ending in a bright, contrasting tip that gives the polyp a torch-like look.

Common questions

What size tank does a torch coral need?

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

What temperature and pH does a torch coral need?

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

What does a torch coral eat?

A torch coral draws its energy from its zooxanthellae. You can also spot feed it to help it grow.

How big does a torch coral get?

An adult torch coral reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species