Octospawn Care Guide
Octospawn (Euphyllia yaeyamaensis) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-175 PAR, medium flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Octospawn (Euphyllia yaeyamaensis) is a LPS coral in the family Euphylliidae. Branching frogspawn-relative from Yaeyama with eight-pointed star tentacle tips. Often sold as designer Octospawn.
Taxonomy
- Family: Euphylliidae
- Genus: Euphyllia
- Scientific name: Euphyllia yaeyamaensis
- Common synonyms: Octo Frogspawn, Yaeyama Frogspawn
Habitat
In the wild, Euphyllia yaeyamaensis is reported from Japan (Yaeyama Islands), where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a branching 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: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 75-175 PAR
- Water flow: medium
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
Euphyllia yaeyamaensis hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, 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 0.2-0.5 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for branching 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.
Octospawn (Euphyllia yaeyamaensis) Propagation Guide
Overview
The Octospawn is the branching frogspawn relative traded as Euphyllia yaeyamaensis, named for eight-pointed star tentacle tips. According to Wikipedia, this species has been taxonomically reclassified into the genus Fimbriaphyllia (as Fimbriaphyllia yaeyamaensis, thick branched frogspawn coral); the name Euphyllia yaeyamaensis remains in wide aquarium use. It is a large-polyped stony coral with a branching skeleton.
Reproductive Mode
Aquarium propagation is asexual by fragmentation. As a branching frogspawn-type coral, individual heads sit on separate branches of skeleton, so colonies are divided into single- or multi-head frags using the same approach as branching Euphyllia and frogspawn corals.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Wait for a colony with several heads on distinct branches.
- Cut through the bare skeleton between heads with coral cutters or a band saw for a cleaner edge.
- Avoid cutting through the polyp flesh; cut on the skeleton.
- Dip the frags to clear pests before mounting.
- Glue each frag to a plug in gentle flow and medium light until the cut tissue recedes and heals.
Branching frogspawn-type corals like this are among the more cooperative LPS to frag because the heads are physically separated on the skeleton.
Conditions for Propagation
Maintain temperature near 24-26 degrees Celsius and pH 8.1-8.4 with stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium so the skeleton can extend. Medium light and medium flow support healing and full tentacle expansion.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction occurs on the reef and is not used for hobby propagation. The consulted sources do not document captive spawning for this species, so propagation is by fragmentation only.
Common Challenges
Like its Euphyllia relatives, the Octospawn carries stinging tentacles and can deploy sweepers against neighbours, so frags need spacing. Cut tissue is vulnerable to brown jelly, a contagious ciliate infection that spreads quickly between corallites and to nearby Euphyllia and frogspawn corals; affected tissue should be fragged off and discarded.