Glove Polyps (Clavularia sp.) Care Guide
Clavularia, the clove or glove polyps, is an encrusting octocoral whose stolon-linked polyps form a colourful mat in reef tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Clavularia is a genus of soft corals in the family Clavulariidae, known in the hobby as glove polyps or clove polyps. Polyps are connected by a stolon mat and each bears eight pinnate tentacles, in clover-like clusters. Australian morphs in yellow or green are especially prized.
Taxonomy
- Family: Clavulariidae
- Order: Malacalcyonacea
- Class: Octocorallia
- Scientific name: Clavularia sp.
- Authority of genus: Blainville, 1830
Habitat
The genus is widely distributed, with the reef-aquarium morphs originating from tropical Indo-Pacific waters where they encrust hard substrate. WoRMS recognises a large number of accepted species in the genus.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 C (75-79 F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Lighting: ~50-175 PAR (medium)
- Flow: low
- Minimum tank maturity: 3 months
Feeding
Clavularia is photosynthetic, drawing most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae and supplementing with dissolved nutrients absorbed from the water. Routine target feeding is not necessary.
Compatibility
It is passive and reef-safe, compatible with fish and shrimp. As an encrusting coral it spreads over rock and is best kept on isolated rockwork.
Clavularia (Glove Polyps) Propagation Guide
Overview
Clavularia, the clove or glove polyps, is a genus of stoloniferous soft coral in the family Clavulariidae, an octocoral family of the order Malacalcyonacea. Colonies consist of separate retractable polyps growing from a horizontal encrusting stolon or basal membrane, the tissues stiffened by sclerites. Each polyp carries eight feather-like pinnate tentacles.
Reproductive Mode
The colony spreads as the basal stolon advances over substrate, so propagation in the aquarium is asexual and based on dividing this spreading mat.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Clavularia is straightforward to propagate: frags are made by pulling colonies apart, clipping or sawing the rock the stolon has spread over, or simply cutting the basal membrane with a blade or scissors. The separated piece is then secured to a clean plug or rock until the stolon re-attaches and resumes spreading.
Conditions for Propagation
Clavularia is tolerant of low water flow and medium to low lighting, so frags establish readily under the lighting, flow and water parameters recorded for this species in the knowledge base.
Common Challenges
The polyps are retractable and may stay closed for a period after fragging while the stolon re-attaches, so a freshly cut frag can look dormant before it settles and the polyps reopen.