Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata) Propagation Guide

Propagating the candy cane / trumpet coral (Caulastrea furcata): one of the easiest branching LPS to frag by separating individual corallite heads and gluing them to plugs.

Overview

Caulastraea furcata, the candy cane or trumpet coral, is a stony coral in the family Merulinidae. It grows as a phaceloid colony of separate corallite heads carried on stalk-like branches, forming a bouquet shape. Reef Builders describes Caulastrea as a hardy, beginner-friendly LPS that works in many systems, and as one of the easiest branching corals to frag.

Reproductive Mode

Propagation in the aquarium is asexual by fragmentation. Because each head sits on its own branch, branching corals like Caulastrea are the easiest LPS to frag, since the task is simply to separate the branches from one another.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Identify the branching stalks where individual heads connect.
Separate the branches using coral cutters; a band saw gives a flatter, cleaner edge if available.
Cut into singles or doubles, then shave the base flat so each frag stands with a flat bottom.
Glue or epoxy each frag to a plug.
Place frags in low flow and moderate light, where they recover quickly and bud new heads.

Candy cane is forgiving of a range of PAR and flow, which helps frags settle, and healthy colonies bud additional corallites over time to replace what was removed.

Conditions for Propagation

Hold temperature around 24-26 degrees Celsius and pH 8.1-8.4 with stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. Caulastrea tolerates wide PAR and flow ranges, so low to moderate flow and medium light suit fresh frags; light feeding supports recovery.

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction occurs on the reef and is not used for hobby propagation. The consulted sources do not document captive spawning for Caulastrea, so aquarium propagation relies on fragmentation and natural budding.

Common Challenges

Candy cane is a passive, peaceful coral without strong stinging sweepers, so aggression is rarely an issue. The main risks are mechanical: crushing a head with cutters or leaving a ragged cut, both reduced by working on the bare branch and shaving a flat base. As with any LPS, keep new frags clean to avoid infection at the cut.