Propagating Dendrophyllia (Yellow Tube Coral)

Propagating the non-photosynthetic branching Dendrophyllia tube coral: an azooxanthellate deepwater species grown by colony division and dependent on heavy daily zooplankton feeding.

Overview

Dendrophyllia is a genus of stony cup corals in the family Dendrophylliidae, with roughly 30 recognised species. Members inhabit deep ocean environments, recorded to depths of about 900 m. Branching forms produce tubular corallites; the yellow tube coral of the hobby is one such branching Dendrophyllia.

Reproductive Mode

As an azooxanthellate coral, Dendrophyllia derives no energy from light and depends entirely on heterotrophic feeding. In the family, most members capture food rather than photosynthesise, relying in nature on strong currents to deliver plankton from the reef above.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

As a branching colonial coral, the yellow tube coral is propagated by dividing the colony: a branch or section bearing one or more corallites is separated and remounted onto rubble or a plug, then fed individually until it establishes. Each new piece must be kept fed to avoid decline.

• Select a branch or section bearing healthy corallites.
• Separate it from the parent colony and mount it on rubble or a plug.
• Place in a high-flow area to aid prey capture.
• Hand-feed zooplankton to each piece nearly daily.

Feeding & Conditions for Propagation

Husbandry is demanding because of the requirement for large amounts of zooplankton, most of it delivered by hand. Flow velocity strongly affects prey capture, so these corals should be placed in high-flow areas; without that combination of food and flow a frag will not establish.

Common Challenges

The defining challenge is the feeding load: the daily zooplankton needed both stresses the keeper's routine and adds nutrients that must be exported. Some species have appetites that daily feeding cannot fully satisfy, making long-term success the main hurdle to building up frags.