Anemone Coral

About

Anemone coral (Goniopora ciliatus) is one of the less commonly encountered members of the Goniopora genus in the hobby, hailing from shallow, wave-exposed reefs along the western Indian Ocean coast, including sites in Oman and Egypt. In the wild it grows in submassive or columnar forms, with short columns that tend to cluster into clumps. A growth pattern that makes colonies look almost like a collection of living pillars. The corallites themselves are circular and fairly uniform, with widely spaced, irregular septa and small columellae. The standout feature, as with most Gonioporas, is the polyp extension. Long, slender tentacles that billow outward and give the coral its common name, since a fully open colony genuinely resembles a cluster of miniature anemones. Colouration in the wild runs to pale brown, though captive specimens can vary depending on light and feeding. Like others in its genus, this coral prefers high light and moderate flow, which mirrors the turbulent shallow-reef conditions it occupies naturally. Goniopora species as a group have a reputation for being tricky to keep long-term, and this species is no exception. It rewards patient, attentive keepers rather than beginners still finding their footing with reef systems.