Orange Cup Coral
Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) elegans
Also known as: orange stony coral
A vivid cold-water coral that thrives in the shade where most corals fail.
About
Orange Cup Coral (Balanophyllia elegans) is one of the few stony corals that genuinely prefers low light, making it an unusual option in a hobby dominated by high-intensity reef setups. Native to the eastern Pacific coast of North America, from Canadian to US waters, it grows naturally in shaded, rocky habitats. Often in surge channels and shaded vertical walls where little sunlight penetrates. Unlike the vast majority of reef-building corals, this species is azooxanthellate, meaning it carries no symbiotic algae and relies entirely on captured food for nutrition. That distinction is critical for its care: it has no interest in the strong lighting that dominates most reef tanks, and placing it under bright fixtures won't benefit it at all. Its vivid orange polyps are genuinely bold against rockwork, and the overall form is a classic solitary cup shape. Because feeding is everything for this coral, regular target feeding with meaty foods like mysis, copepods, or coral-specific preparations is essential rather than optional. Moderate flow helps deliver food and carry waste away without battering the extended polyps. Keepers with a cold-water or low-light system will find this a rewarding species, though its feeding demands put it firmly in intermediate territory.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Orange Cup Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Orange Cup Coral eat?
- The Orange Cup Coral is a filter feeder. It eats tiny particles suspended in the water and usually needs target feeding in a home tank.
- Is the Orange Cup Coral reef safe?
- The Orange Cup Coral is generally considered reef safe.