Porites

Care at a glance

In nature Porites forms enormous, massive blocks that can be centuries old; the annual bands in their skeletons are even used to reconstruct past sea temperatures. In the aquarium you usually see branching or encrusting varieties with very small polyps.

It is a demanding coral: it asks for strong light, vigorous flow and very stable parameters, and it responds slowly, so problems only become visible late. Colonies often contain Christmas tree worms; these are part of the package and do not help with care, but they do make the whole thing special.

Good to know

• Needs a mature, stable tank

Related species

• Birdsnest coralSeriatopora hystrix
• Ricordea mushroomRicordea florida
• Kenya tree coralCapnella sp.
• PocilloporaPocillopora damicornis
• Finger leather coralSinularia sp.
• StylophoraStylophora pistillata