Clove Polyp

About

Found on reef structures across the Western Pacific, Clavularia inflata is a colonial soft coral belonging to the order Alcyonacea. Because its given common name is the same as its scientific name, most hobbyists simply know it as a clove polyp or mat coral, grouped loosely with similar stoloniferan corals that spread across rock and substrate in a creeping, mat-like fashion. Each polyp extends with feathery pinnate tentacles that give the colony a fuzzy, animated appearance when fully open, and the whole mat contracts tightly when stressed or exposed to unfavorable conditions. In the wild it turns up on reef-associated surfaces from tropical to subtropical zones in the Western Pacific, tolerating a reasonably broad range of conditions. In the aquarium it asks for relatively little. Low to moderate light and gentle flow suit it well, and it earns a reputation as one of the more forgiving soft corals a newer reef keeper can start with. It will gradually spread across available hard surfaces, which is part of the appeal but also worth managing in a mixed reef so faster-encrusting colonies don't crowd neighbors. Overall it's an undemanding, rewarding addition to a peaceful reef system.