Finger Coral

About

Finger coral (Caulastraea echinulata) is a large-polyp stony coral found across the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Ryukyu Islands down through the Philippines and out to Australia. In the wild it grows on reefs from the shallows down to around 40 meters, which hints at its adaptability to varying light conditions. Each polyp sits atop a distinct cylindrical corallite, and when the fleshy tissue is extended the colony takes on a bumpy, almost club-like appearance that makes it easy to pick out from other LPS corals. Colors tend toward greens, blues, and browns, often with contrasting oral disc tones that become more visible once the coral settles in and starts regularly extending its polyps. In the aquarium, Caulastraea echinulata is considered an intermediate-level coral. Not quite the push-button easy of a hammer or torch, but far from the demanding end of the spectrum. It appreciates moderate lighting and moderate flow rather than high-intensity conditions, and it's generally tolerant of the kind of minor parameter fluctuations that happen in a maturing reef tank. It's also considered reef safe, posing little aggression risk to neighbors when given reasonable space. A solid choice for a hobbyist ready to move beyond the most beginner-friendly corals.