Starflower Coral

About

Starflower Coral (Astreopora myriophthalma) is a hard coral native to the Indo-Pacific, found across a wide geographic range from the Red Sea out into the central Pacific. In the wild it grows across most reef environments from just below the surface down to around 20 meters, though it tends to avoid areas with heavy sediment or consistently murky water. The colony takes on a rounded, hemispherical form with a fairly smooth overall profile, and the individual corallites are evenly distributed across the surface, each one cone-shaped with an opening that faces outward or upward. The textured tissue between corallites gives the whole surface a granular, almost bumpy appearance that makes it fairly recognizable once you know what to look for. Coloration varies considerably. Cream and brown tones are common, but you can also find colonies in bluish or yellowish shades, occasionally with a mottled patterning. In the aquarium this species falls firmly into the advanced category. It demands intense lighting and strong, consistent water movement to replicate the wave-washed reef conditions it thrives in naturally. This is not a coral for someone still dialing in their system. It rewards experienced reefers who can maintain stable, high-quality water and deliver the high-energy environment it needs to grow and color up well.