Star Coral

About

Star coral (Astreopora gracilis) is a stony coral from the Indo-Pacific that grows in hemispherical to encrusting colony forms, found across a broad range of reef environments from about 5 to 25 meters depth, including shallow turbid water where many other SPS corals struggle. What sets it apart visually is its irregular, almost rough surface texture. Individual corallites are immersed, conical, or tubular, face different directions, and vary noticeably in size, giving the colony a somewhat lumpy, uneven character rather than the uniform geometry you see in many other stony corals. The coenosteum between corallites is covered in small papillae that tilt along the surface, adding to that textured look. Coloration tends toward the understated side. Pale cream, soft green, and brown are the typical options, so this isn't a coral you add for bold color. In the aquarium, Astreopora gracilis demands very high light and strong, consistent flow, and is firmly in advanced territory. This is not a beginner SPS. It rewards careful attention to water quality and stable conditions, and is best kept by reefers who already have experience maintaining demanding stony corals. Its natural tolerance for turbid, shallower water is interesting, but don't let that suggest it's forgiving in captivity.