Anemone Coral

About

Anemone Coral (Goniopora sultani) is one of the more visually arresting members of a genus already known for its dramatic polyp displays. When fully extended, the long, tubular polyps sway with the current in a way that genuinely earns the anemone comparison in its common name. The underlying colony structure is built from thick, short columns that are oval in cross-section, with very large corallites, around 7 to 8 mm across, that appear consistently across both the tops and sides of each column. The walls are thin, giving the corallites a somewhat angular appearance, and the internal structure features broad columellae with short, evenly spaced septa. In the wild, this species turns up on upper reef slopes, where it gets good light and moderate water movement. Coloration is a pale cream, which can look understated when the polyps are retracted but takes on a soft warmth when the colony is fully open. Like most Goniopora, this one carries a reputation for being finicky. It falls into the intermediate care bracket, and long-term success tends to come to keepers who can provide stable, high-quality water alongside strong lighting and steady moderate flow. Not a beginner coral, but a rewarding one for those ready to put in the effort.