Goniopora stokesi (Flowerpot Coral) Care Guide
Goniopora stokesi is a free-living flowerpot LPS coral with daisy-like polyps tipped by 24 tentacles; historically difficult, now improved by aquaculture.
Overview
Goniopora stokesi is a colonial stony coral of the family Poritidae, described by Milne-Edwards and Haime in 1851. Members of the genus Goniopora are known as flowerpot or daisy corals, forming numerous daisy-like polyps that extend from the colony, each polyp tipped with 24 tentacles. Colonies of G. stokesi are hemispherical and usually free-living rather than firmly attached, often bearing satellite daughter colonies that have not yet budded off.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poritidae
- Order: Scleractinia
- Genus: Goniopora
- Scientific name: Goniopora stokesi
- Authority: Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1851
Habitat
The species is found widely across the northern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific, from Madagascar and the Gulf of Aden through the Maldives and southern India, the East Indies, Japan and northern Western Australia to the Great Barrier Reef. It lives on sandy bottoms in turbid, relatively still waters, reported mainly at depths of 9-20 m and less commonly between 3 and 30 m.
Reef parameters
- Type: LPS (large-polyp stony) coral, polyp-bouquet form
- 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 carries symbiotic zooxanthellae but is also an avid feeder, and the genus has historically been difficult to sustain on light alone. Modern aquaculture and feeding practice have greatly improved success rates. Spot-feeding small foods such as mysis, planktonic foods and amino acids is recommended; gentle water movement that is not directed straight at the polyps helps them extend.
Compatibility
The coral is reef-safe with fish and shrimp but is moderately aggressive toward neighbours, so it should be given space from other corals. Because it is demanding, a well-established tank of about a year or older is advised before keeping it.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (2008 assessment). The aquarium trade has been cited as one factor placing the species under pressure, which makes aquacultured specimens preferable.