Favites halicora (War Coral) Propagation Guide

Propagating Favites halicora (Merulinidae), a brain coral with shared corallite walls, by cutting the massive skeleton, with notes on its aggression and reef spawning.

Overview

Favites halicora is a brain coral in the family Merulinidae. Its corallites are mostly cerioid, sharing a common wall between adjacent polyps; this distinguishes Favites from Favia, where each corallite has its own separate wall. The genus ranges across the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea to the Tuamotu Islands and grows as massive, dome-shaped or encrusting colonies on a single skeleton, so it is propagated by dividing that skeleton.

Reproductive Mode

The colony enlarges asexually by budding new shared-wall corallites across the skeleton, growing one genotype. Reef-building Merulinidae also reproduce sexually by broadcasting gametes for external fertilisation. Hobby propagation uses the asexual route, dividing the colony.

Fragging / Asexual Propagation

Pick a healthy colony and plan a cut along the shared corallite walls between polyps.
Saw through the massive skeleton with a band saw, keeping whole corallites on each frag.
Rinse skeletal dust and mount each frag cut-side down on a plug or rock.
Recover in moderate flow under reduced light until tissue covers the edge.

Conditions for Propagation

Stable carbonate chemistry for skeletal regrowth.
Moderate, clean flow over the cut.
Reduced light during early recovery.
Adequate spacing from neighbours, since this is an aggressive coral with strong night sweepers.

Sexual Reproduction

On the reef this genus participates in synchronised spawning, releasing gametes into the water for external fertilisation and larval settlement. This is not a practical home-propagation method.

Common Challenges

Beyond the usual algae and recession risk on fresh cuts, Favites is notably aggressive: when placing frags, leave room because it deploys strong sweeper tentacles at night that can sting neighbouring corals.