Stokes' star coral

About

Stokes' star coral (Dichocoenia stokesii) is a small boulder-forming stony coral native to the reef systems of the Western Central Atlantic, ranging from the Caribbean up into subtropical waters. In the wild it turns up across a wide depth range, from shallow reef flats down to well below 70 meters, which hints at a certain adaptability that carries over into the aquarium. The colony typically forms compact domed or encrusting shapes, and up close the corallites are notably elongated or elliptical. A useful identification feature that sets it apart from the rounder polyp arrangements seen in many other star corals. Coloration tends toward earthy browns and greens, occasionally with hints of yellow, largely driven by the zooxanthellae living in its tissue. Moderate lighting and moderate flow suit it well, and it generally handles aquarium life better than many SPS corals, making it a reasonable choice for a hobbyist who has moved past the beginner stage and wants to explore Atlantic reef species. It is not commonly seen in the trade compared to Indo-Pacific corals, so finding a captive-grown specimen is worth the effort when one comes available. Give it stable water quality and room to grow without brushing neighbors.