WYSIWYG Fire Red Goniopora Coral (Goniopora sp.)

This Fire Red Goniopora (Goniopora sp.) is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral, also called Flower Pot or Daisy Coral. This colony is covered edge to edge in long polyps, each opening into a ring of short orange-red tentacles around a pale center with a violet mouth, so with everything extended it reads as a dense, glowing bouquet. Goniopora is a coral for reef keepers with an established, stable tank rather than a first coral. Browse the rest of our live coral selection and saltwater supplies.

Why WYSIWYG Matters on a Goniopora

Goniopora colonies vary a lot from piece to piece in color, polyp length and how fully they cover their base, so the photo on this page is this colony. Two honest caveats come with it. The picture was taken under blue-heavy reef lighting, which pushes the colors toward orange and violet, so under a whiter light expect the reds to look somewhat different. And polyp extension changes day to day, so a freshly moved colony may stay partly closed for a few days while it settles in.

Care Guide

• Lighting: moderate. T-5, a strong LED or metal halide fixture all work.
• Flow: medium.
• Placement: middle to top of the rockwork. Goniopora is aggressive: at night it extends sweeper tentacles well past its base and can sting nearby corals, so give it plenty of open space.
• Water parameters: 72 to 78°F, specific gravity 1.023 to 1.025, pH 8.1 to 8.4, alkalinity 8 to 12 dKH. It does best in an established reef with high water quality. Supplement calcium, strontium, iodine, magnesium and trace elements as your tank needs them.
• Feeding: photosynthetic, with symbiotic zooxanthellae covering much of its needs. It benefits from regular supplemental feedings of micro-plankton or foods made for filter-feeding invertebrates.
• Tankmates: clownfish will sometimes host in Goniopora when no anemone is present. An over-eager clownfish can stress or damage the coral, so watch for it.

Specifications

FAQ

Is the photo really this coral?
Yes. This is a WYSIWYG listing, and the photo is the exact colony you take home. Expect the colors to look a little different under your own lighting.

Can I have it shipped?
No. Live corals are available for in-store pickup only.

Is Goniopora a good first coral?
Not usually. It does best in an established reef with stable, high-quality water, so we suggest it once your tank has a track record.

Will it sting my other corals?
It can. Goniopora puts out sweeper tentacles at night, so leave open space around it.