Tree Coral

About

Found in the tropical waters off Australia, Litophyton burfordensis is a sessile soft coral belonging to the family Nephtheidae. A group known collectively as tree corals or cauliflower corals for their branching, arborescent growth forms. This species was formally described as part of a sweeping 2020 revision of the Litophyton genus from Australian waters, meaning hobbyist records are still relatively sparse compared to more established soft coral genera. In the reef aquarium, it behaves as a typical nephtheid, extending its polyps to feed when conditions are right and retracting when disturbed or flow is excessive. It appreciates strong, random water movement that mimics the surge-swept reef environments where these corals naturally occur, and moderate lighting suits it well without the intensity demands of many stony corals. Because nephtheid soft corals can have specific feeding and flow requirements that take some dialing in, this one is better suited to a keeper who already has experience maintaining soft coral systems rather than someone just starting out. Reef safe and non-aggressive toward neighbors, it makes a reasonable addition to a well-established mixed reef as long as its flow and feeding needs are consistently met.