SPS
Stylophora
Stylophora pistillata
Also sold as Stylo, Cat's paw (trade)
- Type
- SPS
- Care level
- Beginner SPS
- Light
- 150 to 350 PAR (high)
- Flow
- High
- With neighbours
- Peaceful
Safety: handling stylophora
Low hazard
How do you care for stylophora?
Placement
Mid to upper
Flow
Moderate to strong
Feeding
Optional
Growth
Moderate to fast
Water quality
One of the most forgiving SPS; tolerates minor nutrient swings better than Acropora typical, check
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.
Adapts to medium to high light. 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 stylophora; run activated carbon.
- Finger leatherFinger leather releases chemicals that can harm SPS such as the stylophora; run activated carbon.
- Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the stylophora out of reach.
- Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the stylophora 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 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
Pocillopora
Pocillopora damicornis and others
- Care
- Intermediate
- Light
- High
- Flow
- High
- Neighbours
- Peaceful
Photo Ahmed Abdul Rahman, 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