SPS
Pocillopora
Pocillopora damicornis and others
Also sold as Cauliflower coral
- Type
- SPS
- Care level
- Beginner to intermediate SPS
- Light
- 150 to 300 PAR (high)
- Flow
- High
- With neighbours
- Peaceful
Safety: handling pocillopora
Low hazard
How do you care for pocillopora?
Placement
Mid to upper
Flow
Moderate to strong
Feeding
Optional
Growth
Fast; can spawn and settle around the tank
Water quality
Forgiving for an SPS
How much light does it need?
Sources put it at about 150 to 300 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.
Care sources mostly lump with Stylophora. typical, check
Which neighbours are safe?
Low
Room to branch
Fish
Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.
Take care (6)
- Yellow clown gobyYellow clown goby may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Lawnmower blennyLawnmower blenny may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Tailspot blennyTailspot blenny may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Coral beautyCoral beauty may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Flame angelfishFlame angelfish may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
- Moorish idolMoorish idol may nip SPS corals, more so when underfed.
Other corals
Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.
Take care (12)
- Toadstool leatherToadstool leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the pocillopora; run activated carbon.
- Finger leatherFinger leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the pocillopora; run activated carbon.
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the pocillopora out of reach.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.
Take care (3)
- Emerald crabSome emerald crabs nip corals when hungry.
- Peppermint shrimpSome peppermint shrimps nip corals when hungry.
- Camel shrimpSome camel shrimps nip corals when hungry.
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
Red bugs and crabs possible
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
Last checked . How we check
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Related corals
Montipora capricornis
Montipora capricornis
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- Medium
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Montipora digitata
Montipora digitata
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Stylophora
Stylophora pistillata
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo ALLEMAND D, CC BY-SA 4.0
Birdsnest coral
Seriatopora hystrix, S. caliendrum
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo Faol, CC BY-SA 3.0