Lesser Star Coral

About

Lesser star coral (Goniastrea retiformis) is a hardy large-polyp stony coral found across a broad sweep of the Indo-West Pacific, from the East African coast out into the central Pacific. In the wild it forms massive colonies, hemispherical, flat-topped, or columnar, that regularly grow beyond a metre in diameter, and it is sometimes one of the defining species of intertidal reef zones, meaning it tolerates conditions that would stress many other corals. Each corallite is distinctly four to six sided, giving the colony surface a neat geometric pattern not unlike a honeycomb. The septa are thin and straight, with alternating long and short elements and well-developed paliform lobes, which gives the polyp faces a finely detailed appearance when examined up close. Coloration tends to be understated. Cream and pale brown are typical, though individuals occasionally show brown, pink, or soft green tones. In the aquarium, this species fits the intermediate bracket: it is not particularly demanding compared to many LPS corals, but it does best when given consistent moderate light and flow and stable water quality rather than neglect. Its naturally robust character makes it a reasonable choice for reef keepers who have moved past the basics and want to try a genuinely architectural, colony-forming LPS without jumping straight to the most demanding species.