Arctic Club Coral
Clavularia arctica
A cold-water soft coral surprisingly well-suited to the home reef tank.
About
Arctic Club Coral (Clavularia arctica) is one of those species that raises eyebrows when hobbyists learn it originates from some of the coldest marine waters on the planet. The Arctic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and surrounding European coastal waters. In the wild it forms spreading mats of individual polyps, each one a small feathery cylinder that extends to feed and retracts when disturbed, giving colonies a shaggy, animated quality when they're happy and open. The polyps are generally muted in tone, reflecting their origins in deeper or dimly lit cold-water environments rather than the sun-drenched tropics most reef keepers are used to working with. Despite its exotic provenance, this coral slots comfortably into a typical reef setup. It appreciates gentle flow rather than anything turbulent, and it does well under low light, which actually makes it a useful option for shadier spots in the tank that other corals might struggle with. It is considered reef safe and approachable enough for beginners, which is welcome news given that cold-water corals as a group often carry a reputation for being fussy. If you can provide stable water conditions and resist the urge to blast it with light or flow, this coral tends to settle in and spread steadily over time.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Arctic Club Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- What does the Arctic Club Coral eat?
- The Arctic Club Coral is a filter feeder. It eats tiny particles suspended in the water and usually needs target feeding in a home tank.
- Is the Arctic Club Coral reef safe?
- The Arctic Club Coral is generally considered reef safe.