Meat Coral Care Guide
Meat Coral (Acanthophyllia deshayesiana) is a LPS coral. Care covers 50-150 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Meat Coral (Acanthophyllia deshayesiana) is a LPS coral in the family Lobophylliidae. Single-mouthed solitary LPS with massive fleshy mantle. Iconic show coral; rainbow morphs are highly prized.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Acanthophyllia
- Scientific name: Acanthophyllia deshayesiana
- Common synonyms: Doughnut Coral, Acan Brain
Habitat
In the wild, Acanthophyllia deshayesiana is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a massive growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 6 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 50-150 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Acanthophyllia deshayesiana hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, brine, reef-roids, amino-acids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.1-0.3 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for massive colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Acanthophyllia deshayesiana Propagation Guide
Overview
Acanthophyllia deshayesiana (Michelin, 1850) is a large polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae, traded as the meat or doughnut coral. According to the World Register of Marine Species, the genus Acanthophyllia (Wells, 1937) was held within Cynarina before being recognised again as valid when Acanthophyllia deshayesiana was separated from Cynarina lacrymalis in 2016. It is a solitary, free-living coral built around a single mouth surrounded by a heavy fleshy mantle.
Reproductive Mode
As a single-polyp coral, Acanthophyllia does not build a colony by dividing into many corallites the way meandering brain corals do. In aquaria it is therefore propagated only through slow natural budding and tissue regeneration around its single skeleton, while population-level reproduction in the wild occurs through sexual spawning.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Reef Builders notes that single-polyp corals such as meat corals, Scolymia and Fungia resist conventional fragging because there is no shared wall between separate polyps to cut along. Deliberately sectioning a solitary meat coral means cutting straight through the one polyp, which is high risk; for this reason it is generally left intact and allowed to bud or regenerate on its own rather than being sawn.
Conditions for Propagation
Recovery of any cut or naturally divided tissue is favoured by stable parameters. During the period when tissue is healing, Reef Builders recommends basting mucus gently off the coral and keeping water motion low so the fleshy mantle is not torn. Calm flow and clean, stable water give the polyp the best chance to re-skin exposed skeleton.
Sexual Reproduction
Like other stony corals in its family, Acanthophyllia reproduces sexually by releasing gametes into the water column, where fertilisation produces free-swimming planula larvae that settle and form new single polyps. This broadcast pathway, rather than fragmentation, is the natural route by which new individuals are created on the reef.
Common Challenges
The fleshy mantle is easily damaged, and because the animal is a single polyp any tissue injury threatens the whole coral. Rapid swelling and deflation make handling delicate, and recessed tissue or a torn mantle can quickly progress if water quality is poor. Avoid unnecessary handling and protect the soft tissue from sharp rock and strong flow.
Rainbow Acanthophyllia Propagation Guide
Overview
The rainbow Acanthophyllia is a colour morph of Acanthophyllia deshayesiana (Michelin, 1850), a large polyp stony coral in the family Lobophylliidae. The World Register of Marine Species treats Acanthophyllia (Wells, 1937) as a valid genus that was separated from Cynarina lacrymalis in 2016. The vivid concentric bands do not change the animal's biology: it remains a solitary, free-living coral built on a single mouth and one fleshy mantle.
Reproductive Mode
Because the rainbow morph is still a single-polyp Acanthophyllia, it cannot be multiplied by dividing a colony into many corallites. Increase under aquarium conditions depends on slow natural budding and tissue regeneration on the existing skeleton, while new individuals on the reef arise from sexual spawning rather than division.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Reef Builders explains that single-polyp corals such as meat corals, Scolymia and Fungia do not lend themselves to ordinary fragging, since there is no shared skeletal wall between separate polyps to follow with a saw. Sectioning a solitary rainbow specimen would cut through its one polyp and put the prized colouration at serious risk, so these animals are normally kept whole and allowed to bud naturally instead of being cut.
Conditions for Propagation
Should tissue ever be cut or divide on its own, healing is best supported by steady water chemistry and gentle conditions. Reef Builders advises basting mucus off the coral carefully and keeping flow low while tissue recovers, so the fleshy mantle is not torn. Stable, clean water and calm movement let the polyp re-cover exposed skeleton.
Sexual Reproduction
In common with related Lobophylliidae, Acanthophyllia reproduces sexually by broadcasting gametes into the water, where fertilisation yields planula larvae that drift, settle and grow into new single polyps. Colour morphs are not inherited in a predictable way through this pathway, which is the natural means of producing new corals rather than fragmentation.
Common Challenges
The heavy fleshy mantle bruises easily and, in a single-polyp coral, any wound endangers the whole specimen. The tissue inflates and deflates strongly, so handling must be gentle, and a torn or receding mantle can deteriorate fast in poor water. Keep the soft tissue clear of sharp rock and strong current, and disturb the coral as little as possible.