Starry Cup Coral

About

Starry Cup Coral (Acanthastrea rotundoflora) is an encrusting coral found across a vast stretch of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea all the way through Indonesia and Melanesia, north to Japan and south to Australian waters. In the wild it occupies protected reef environments, typically at depths ranging from the shallows down to around 30 meters. Growth form is encrusting and occasionally submassive, with a noticeable central corallite that stands out in smaller colonies. The individual corallites are plocoid, meaning each one has its own distinct wall, but toward the outer edges of a colony they space out and take on a looser, more irregular appearance similar to pectiniid corals. The septa are toothed with long, pointed tips, and the whole colony carries notably fleshy tissue over its skeleton, giving it a softer, more organic look than many stony corals. Coloration runs toward earthy tones: deep brown, rust-red, or green are all natural expressions of this species. For aquarium keeping, it sits comfortably in the beginner category. It asks for moderate lighting and low flow, and its preference for calm, protected conditions makes it a reasonable choice for hobbyists still finding their footing with reef systems. Keep flow gentle and avoid blasting the fleshy tissue directly.