Serpent Coral

About

Serpent Coral (Pachyseris foliosa) is one of those corals that makes you stop and look twice. Rather than forming the mounding or branching shapes you see in many reef species, it grows in graceful, overlapping fronds that spiral outward in whorls, giving mature colonies an almost rose-like or layered mushroom appearance. Each frond is thin and delicate, either undivided or gently bifurcating, with shallow parallel valleys running along the surface near the margins. There is virtually no columella development, which contributes to that smooth, refined look. In the wild you'll find it in lagoons and on sheltered reef slopes where wave energy is lower. Environments where those thin fronds won't take a beating. Coloration tends toward pale brown or, in some specimens, a soft purple that can really complement a mixed reef display. In the aquarium, Pachyseris foliosa falls into the intermediate care category. It appreciates moderate light and moderate flow, mimicking the gentler conditions of its natural habitat. It is reef safe and generally well-behaved with neighbors. If you can meet its flow and lighting requirements consistently, it's a rewarding and architecturally interesting addition to an established reef tank.