Red Coral

About

Found on rocky substrates across the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic, Corallium rubrum is one of the most historically significant corals in the world, harvested for jewelry and ornamental use since ancient times. In the wild it grows as a branching colony with a vivid red to deep pink skeleton, typically at depths between 10 and 100 meters, though it has been recorded far deeper. The polyps themselves are white, creating a contrast against the characteristic red axial skeleton that gives this species its enduring appeal. In an aquarium context, it is sessile and relatively slow-growing, anchoring itself to hard surfaces and extending its polyps to filter fine particulate matter from the water column. While it is listed here as a beginner coral, that designation should be taken with some caution. This species comes from cool, subtropical waters and may not thrive in the warmer conditions of a typical reef display. It prefers moderate flow to deliver food and carry away waste without battering the colony. Given its protected status in much of its native range due to centuries of overharvesting, any specimen entering the hobby should be confirmed as aquaculture-raised rather than wild-collected.