Tree Coral

About

Found on shallow reef structures along the Australian coastline, Litophyton acutum is a soft coral belonging to the family Nephtheidae, a group often called tree corals or colt corals for their branching, arborescent growth forms. This species was formally documented as part of a comprehensive revision of the Australian Litophyton genus published in 2020, so hobbyist records are still relatively sparse compared to more established soft coral genera. In the wild it occupies depths from the surface down to about 15 meters, suggesting it tolerates a reasonable range of light conditions, though moderate intensity seems to suit it best in captivity. What this species genuinely requires is strong, consistent water movement. High flow replicates the surge and current of its native reef environment and helps the colony fully expand its polyps for feeding. It is considered reef safe, posing no known threat to neighboring stony corals or other invertebrates. Care is rated at an intermediate level, which is reasonable given the relative lack of detailed husbandry data in the hobby. Hobbyists comfortable with soft coral fundamentals and maintaining stable, high-flow reef systems should find this species manageable, but it may not be the best first soft coral for someone just starting out.