Bush Coral

About

Bush Coral (Seriatopora dendritica) is a small-polyp stony coral found across protected reef environments from Indonesia through to Papua New Guinea, typically growing anywhere from the shallows down to around 40 meters. What sets it apart visually is its growth form: thin, widely spaced branches that taper to sharp points, giving colonies an almost needle-like, airy appearance. Corallites run in tidy rows along each branch, and the overall structure has a loose, open quality that makes it look quite different from the denser branching shapes you see in many SPS corals. Coloration runs from pale cream to soft pink. The catch with this coral is fragility. Colonies are genuinely delicate, and even minor physical disturbance can cause branches to snap or whole sections to separate. That means placement matters a lot: somewhere out of heavy traffic, away from areas where flow turbulence might knock it around, and definitely not somewhere it will be accidentally brushed during maintenance. It needs high light and strong, consistent water movement, as you would expect from a coral adapted to active reef zones. Tentacles only extend after dark, so nighttime viewing gives you a different look at the colony. It sits comfortably in the intermediate care bracket. Manageable for a keeper with some SPS experience who can maintain stable parameters and handle it gently.