Sinuous Cup Coral

About

Sinuous Cup Coral (Lobophyllia recta) is a large-polyp stony coral found across a sweeping range of the Indo-Pacific, from the coasts of Yemen and Mozambique through the Maldives and into Melanesia, reaching as far north as Japan and south to Australia. In the wild it grows on reef structures anywhere from the shallows down to around 40 meters, which hints at its adaptability to varying light conditions. Like other members of its genus, it produces thick, fleshy polyps with a distinctly wavy, almost sinuous outline. Giving the coral a sculptural, organic quality that sets it apart from more rigid stony corals. Colors tend to run through earthy greens, browns, and muted reds depending on the light environment and the zooxanthellae living within its tissues. In the aquarium, this is one of the more forgiving large-polyp stony corals you can keep. Moderate lighting and low water movement suit it well, and it does not demand the precision that many other LPS corals require. It is reef safe and poses little threat to neighbors as long as it has reasonable space, since like most Lobophyllia it can extend sweeper tentacles at night. A solid choice if you are moving into LPS keeping for the first time.