Acanthophyllia Speckled Mastergrade | WYSIWYG

Care at a glance

Typical requirements of the genus – individual specimens may differ.

Difficulty

Easy to moderate (Cynarina), moderate (Scolymia).

Light

Low to moderate; too much light makes the tissue shrink.

Flow

Low, so the polyp can inflate fully.

Placement

On the sand bed, not wedged between rocks.

Feeding

Feed mysis or krill directly onto the mouth once or twice a week.

Acanthophyllia, Cynarina, Scolymia and Indophyllia are large solitary corals that live as a single, plump polyp. During the day they inflate into a glowing dome whose colours range from neon green to deep red. Cynarina is considered long-lived and fairly uncomplicated, while Scolymia is a little more demanding. Both do best when placed on the substrate and fed regularly. Gentle flow prevents detritus from settling on the tissue. Over time they grow noticeably and become a calm centrepiece of your reef.