Goniopora lobata Care Guide
Goniopora lobata is a flowerpot LPS coral forming hemispherical colonies or short columns with elongate polyps; relatively hardy and often green or brown.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Goniopora lobata is a colonial stony coral of the family Poritidae, described by Milne Edwards in 1860. Like other Goniopora it is a flowerpot coral with daisy-like polyps each tipped by 24 tentacles. Colonies are hemispherical or, more usually, form short thick columns, with polyps that are elongate when fully extended and small oral cones. Colour is usually brown, yellow or green, often with contrasting oral cones and tentacle tips.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poritidae
- Order: Scleractinia
- Genus: Goniopora
- Scientific name: Goniopora lobata
- Authority: Milne Edwards, 1860
Habitat
The species is described as common and forms large single-species stands, especially in turbid water. Goniopora corals generally inhabit lagoons and turbid environments across the Indo-Pacific.
Reef parameters
- Type: LPS (large-polyp stony) coral, massive growth
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Alkalinity (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: 75-175 PAR (medium)
- Flow: low
Feeding
Goniopora lobata hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and is an active feeder like the rest of its genus. It is considered relatively hardy. Spot-feeding with mysis and planktonic foods supports growth, and gentle flow that is not directed at the polyps allows them to extend fully.
Compatibility
The coral is reef-safe with fish and shrimp but moderately aggressive toward neighbouring corals, so it needs open space around the colony. A reasonably mature tank of about six months or older provides the stable conditions it prefers.
Goniopora lobata Propagation Guide
Overview
Goniopora lobata is a massive-growing flowerpot coral in the family Poritidae that forms rounded colonies. Its daisy-like polyps each carry around 24 tentacles surrounding a central mouth, the diagnostic feature that separates Goniopora from the twelve-tentacle Alveopora.
Reproductive Mode
Goniopora reproduces sexually through spawning, with captive observations of hermaphroditic egg-and-sperm release and short-lived planula larvae, and asexually through budding and fragmentation.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Because the colony grows as a solid rounded mass, propagation is done by cutting the skeleton into pieces that each retain living polyps, then mounting them to heal. As across the genus, results are variable, and growers favour starting from fragged, aquacultured material over wild colonies.
- Cut the massive colony into pieces, each with healthy polyps.
- Mount the frags and allow the cut tissue to recover.
- Start from fragged or aquacultured stock for the most reliable results.
Conditions for Propagation
Stable water with medium light and gentle flow favours recovery, and periodic feeding helps the colony rebuild. Aquacultured frags adapt better to aquarium life than freshly collected wild stock.
Common Challenges
Goniopora as a genus has a documented history of slow decline in captivity and was long considered very difficult. Aquaculture and fragged starter colonies have improved survival, yet the coral remains demanding and rewards stable, attentive care.