Finger Coral

About

Finger Coral (Astraeosmilia tumida) is a hermatypic stony coral found across a sweeping range of the Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and the eastern coast of Africa all the way out to the Solomon Islands, and from the waters around Japan down to Australia. In the wild it occupies reef environments from the shallows down to around 40 meters, giving it a fairly broad depth tolerance. The growth form is the defining characteristic here. This is a solitary coral rather than a colonial, branching species, developing a single, chunky, column-like corallite that gives it a distinctive chunky silhouette among the more typical reef-building corals. That unusual form makes it an interesting textural addition to a mixed reef display. In the aquarium it falls into the intermediate care bracket, not because it is particularly demanding in a dramatic way, but because it rewards consistent attention to water quality and stable conditions more than a beginner's setup typically provides. Moderate light and moderate flow suit it well, and it is considered reef safe, posing no particular threat to neighboring corals given appropriate spacing. Source data on its specific behavioral traits in captivity is limited, so detailed husbandry experience from other reef keepers is worth seeking out before adding one to your system.