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    SPS

    Horn coral

    Hydnophora spp.

    Also sold as Velvet horn, Hydno

    Horn coral (Hydnophora spp.)
    Photo: Ryan McMinds, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Type
    SPS
    Care level
    Beginner to intermediate SPS
    Light
    150 to 350 PAR (high)
    Flow
    High
    With neighbours
    Stings neighbours

    Safety: handling horn coral

    Low hazard

    How do you care for horn coral?

    Placement

    Mid to upper, away from others

    Flow

    Strong, random

    Feeding

    Small particulate meaty foods typical, check

    Growth

    Moderate

    Water quality

    Stable parameters

    How much light does it need?

    Sources put it at about 150 to 350 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.

    Higher light. typical, check

    Which neighbours are safe?

    Aggressive stinging SPS typical, check

    Keep away from sensitive species

    Fish

    Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.

    Take care (6)

    Other corals

    This coral stings. Give these neighbours space.

    Take care (44)

    • ZoanthidsHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the zoanthids out of reach.
    • PalythoaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the palythoa out of reach.
    • Mushroom coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the mushroom coral out of reach.
    • Hairy mushroomHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the hairy mushroom out of reach.
    • Florida ricordeaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the florida ricordea out of reach.
    • Yuma ricordeaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the yuma ricordea out of reach.
    • Toadstool leatherHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the toadstool leather out of reach. Toadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the horn coral; run activated carbon.
    • Finger leatherHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the finger leather out of reach. Finger leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the horn coral; run activated carbon.
    • XeniaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the xenia out of reach.
    • Pulsing xeniaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the pulsing xenia out of reach.
    • Waving hand coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the waving hand coral out of reach.
    • Green star polypsHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the green star polyps out of reach.
    • Clove polypsHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the clove polyps out of reach.
    • Kenya treeHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the kenya tree out of reach.
    • Hammer coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the hammer coral out of reach. Hammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Frogspawn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the frogspawn coral out of reach. Frogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Torch coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the torch coral out of reach. Torch coral stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Duncan coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the duncan coral out of reach.
    • AcanHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the acan out of reach.
    • FaviaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the favia out of reach.
    • FavitesHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the favites out of reach.
    • Chalice coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the chalice coral out of reach.
    • BlastomussaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the blastomussa out of reach.
    • Candy cane coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the candy cane coral out of reach.
    • Bubble coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the bubble coral out of reach.
    • GonioporaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the goniopora out of reach.
    • AlveoporaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the alveopora out of reach.
    • Open brain coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
    • LoboHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the lobo out of reach.
    • GalaxeaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the galaxea out of reach. Galaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Scroll coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the scroll coral out of reach.
    • Montipora capricornisHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the montipora capricornis out of reach.
    • Montipora digitataHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the montipora digitata out of reach.
    • AcroporaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the acropora out of reach.
    • Acropora milleporaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the acropora millepora out of reach.
    • PocilloporaHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
    • StylophoraHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
    • Birdsnest coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the birdsnest coral out of reach.
    • Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Horn coral stings neighbours; keep the fire coral (not Acropora millepora) out of reach. Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Bubble tip anemoneHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the bubble tip anemone out of reach. Bubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Rock flower anemoneHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the rock flower anemone out of reach.
    • Mini maxiHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the mini maxi out of reach. Mini maxi stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Horn coral stings neighbours; keep the carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) out of reach. Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.
    • Ritteri anemoneHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the ritteri anemone out of reach. Ritteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the horn coral out of reach.

    Invertebrates

    Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.

    Take care (3)

    These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

    Pests, dips and quarantine

    Few

    General SPS dip

    No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.

    Sources

    1. Marine Colorado club Hydnophora spotlightRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
    2. BRS Hydnophora listingRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.

    Last checked . How we check

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    Montipora capricornis

    Montipora capricornis

    Care
    Intermediate
    Light
    High
    Flow
    Medium
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0

    No licensed photo yet

    Montipora digitata

    Montipora digitata

    Care
    Intermediate
    Light
    High
    Flow
    High
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Pocillopora

    Pocillopora damicornis and others

    Care
    Intermediate
    Light
    High
    Flow
    High
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo Ahmed Abdul Rahman, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Stylophora

    Stylophora pistillata

    Care
    Intermediate
    Light
    High
    Flow
    High
    Neighbours
    Peaceful

    Photo ALLEMAND D, CC BY-SA 4.0