Bird's Nest Coral
Seriatopora octoptera
A tightly branched finger coral that rewards attentive reefers with detailed structure.
About
Found on shallow Indo-Pacific reef slopes and into the Red Sea, Seriatopora octoptera is a small-polyp stony coral belonging to the same genus as the familiar bird's nest corals. Like its relatives, it builds dense thickets of slender, tapering branches, though this species tends to produce a more compact, bushy growth form compared to the more sprawling Seriatopora hystrix. The branches are arranged tightly and the polyps, when extended, give the colony a softly textured, almost fuzzy appearance. Coloration in the wild and in captivity runs from cream and tan through various shades of pink and green, often depending on the light spectrum and intensity the colony receives. In the aquarium, this coral fits best with a keeper who already has some SPS experience under their belt. It appreciates genuinely strong flow and intense lighting, and it will decline fairly quickly if either falls short. Placement matters too. The compact branching habit means detritus can accumulate in the interior of the colony if flow is not directed thoughtfully. Fragging is straightforward once the colony is established and healthy, making it a reasonable candidate for coral swaps once you have it dialed in.
Similar species
Other coral you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Bird's Nest Coral
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
