Rounded Bubblegum Coral

About

The rounded bubblegum coral (Plerogyra eurysepta) is a large-polyp stony coral native to the Philippines, where it lives on benthic reef habitats in the Western Central Pacific. Like others in its genus, it's immediately recognizable by the pale, grape-like vesicles it inflates during the day. These water-filled bubbles help maximize surface area for the symbiotic zooxanthellae living within its tissues. Come nightfall, the bubbles deflate and long, fine sweeper tentacles emerge to capture drifting zooplankton, so what looks like a placid, rounded mass during the day transforms into something altogether more active after dark. Because those sweeper tentacles can reach a fair distance, placement in the aquarium deserves some thought. Give it enough room so neighboring corals aren't getting stung on a nightly basis. It does best under moderate lighting rather than intense, high-output systems, and prefers calm to gentle flow that allows the vesicles to stay inflated without being buffeted around. It's considered reef safe and intermediate in terms of care, making it a reasonable choice for a keeper who already has some LPS experience under their belt. Regular supplemental feeding will help it thrive long-term.