Lobed Cactus Coral

About

Lobed cactus coral (Lobophyllia hataii) is a large polyp stony coral with a quietly interesting growth form. Colonies develop a meandering, brain-like structure toward the center while the outer edges take on a more flattened, radiating pattern. The shallow valleys have notably flat floors, and the color contrast between the valley walls and floors is often the most visually interesting thing about this coral, typically playing off shades of brown and green against one another. In the wild, it occupies upper reef slopes across a huge stretch of the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea all the way out to Melanesia and Japan, generally in areas sheltered from strong wave energy. That preference for calmer, protected water translates well to the aquarium. This is a coral that does best with gentle, indirect flow rather than anything turbulent. Its forgiving nature and tolerance of moderate lighting make it a reasonable choice for hobbyists who are newer to keeping large polyp stonies. Give it some room on the rockwork since colonies can grow outward over time, and be mindful of neighbors. Like most LPS corals, it can extend feeding tentacles at night.