Octopus Coral

About

Octopus Coral (Galaxea cryptoramosa) is one of the less commonly encountered members of the Galaxea family in the hobby, though it rewards closer attention once you know what you're looking at. Native to shallow, sheltered reef environments across the Philippines and Indonesia, it forms colonies up to about 30 centimeters wide, built from irregular branches where the individual corallites are fused together in a somewhat haphazard, almost organic arrangement. The corallites vary noticeably in size across the same colony, which gives the whole structure a more complex, textured appearance than many other branching corals. Coloration runs to pale brown with white-tipped tentacles. Understated, but with a certain quiet character when the polyps are extended. Compared to other Galaxea species, the septa are less pronounced and prominent, and there is no columella, which gives the polyp faces a cleaner look up close. Like others in its genus, it can be aggressive toward neighboring corals through the use of sweeper tentacles, so give it adequate space from other colonies in the aquarium. It sits comfortably in the intermediate care bracket. Not a beginner coral, but not unreasonably demanding either for a keeper with some reef experience and stable water conditions.