Scarlet-and-gold Star Coral

About

The scarlet-and-gold star coral (Balanophyllia regia) is a solitary stony coral with a genuinely different look from the tropical species that dominate most reef tanks. Its vivid orange-red skeleton is topped with bright golden polyps, creating a two-tone appearance that stands out without needing intense lighting to show it off. In the wild it's found along the Eastern Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, often tucking itself into shaded overhangs, cave entrances, and rocky outcroppings where light barely reaches. That preference for shade is actually what makes it interesting from a husbandry standpoint. It's one of the few stony corals that actively prefers low-light conditions, which opens up placement options that most LPS corals would struggle in. It's non-photosynthetic, meaning it depends entirely on direct feeding rather than zooxanthellae, so keepers need to stay on top of regular meaty feedings to keep it healthy. That feeding requirement is really the main reason this species lands in the intermediate category rather than being a straightforward beginner coral. Given consistent nutrition and moderate water movement, it's a rewarding and genuinely unusual addition to a cold-water or low-light reef display.