Black sun coral

Care at a glance

The black sun coral is a close relative of the (orange) sun coral and, like that species, an azooxanthellate coral without symbiotic algae — meaning it lives entirely on captured food rather than light. Unlike the sun coral's compact, knobbly clusters, this species grows into a large, dark, tree-like branching colony.

The feeding-intensive care is similar to the sun coral's — every polyp wants to be fed individually, a few times a week — but plan for its eventual size: this coral keeps growing to a substantial scale and so needs far more room over time than its smaller cousin.

Good to know

• Hard to wean onto dry food
• Active at night
• Outgrows most home tanks

Related species

• StylophoraStylophora pistillata
• Sun coralTubastraea sp.
• Chalice coralEchinophyllia sp.
• PocilloporaPocillopora damicornis
• Birdsnest coralSeriatopora hystrix
• Elegance coralCatalaphyllia jardinei