Artichoke Coral

About

The solitary disk coral (Scolymia cubensis) is one of the more approachable large-polyp stony corals available to reef keepers, and it comes from a part of the world that doesn't always get enough attention in the hobby. The Western Atlantic, from the Gulf of Mexico down through the Caribbean and as far south as Brazil. In the wild it tends to settle on lower reef slopes and soft substrates, where light is gentler, so it isn't a coral chasing intense illumination. The polyp itself is fleshy and disc-shaped, usually a single large mouth though occasionally sporting two or more centers, and it can grow quite wide. The base tapers downward and older specimens sometimes develop a layered, tiered look from successive growth phases. Coloration runs a nice range: browns, tans, reds, and greens appear commonly, and some individuals come in a vivid orange that can fool cameras into rendering it brown. For a reef tank, it needs moderate light and flow rather than anything extreme, and its beginner-friendly care rating reflects that it isn't particularly demanding once placed correctly. Give it enough room that neighboring corals can't reach it, since large-polyp stony corals like this one can extend feeding tentacles further than you might expect.