Goniopora tenuidens Care Guide
Goniopora tenuidens is a flowerpot LPS coral forming hemispherical mounds with slender uniform polyps; widespread and relatively bleaching-resistant.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Goniopora tenuidens is a colonial stony coral of the family Poritidae, described by Quelch in 1886 (originally as Rhodaraea tenuidens). It is a flowerpot coral with daisy-like polyps tipped by 24 tentacles. Colonies form solid hemispherical or irregular mounds. The small, rounded corallites have six palliform lobes on their inner margins, and the polyps are of regular length topped with a uniform bundle of tentacles. Colour is bluish, green or brown, with tentacles sometimes tipped with white.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poritidae
- Order: Scleractinia
- Genus: Goniopora
- Scientific name: Goniopora tenuidens
- Authority: Quelch, 1886
Habitat
The species occurs across the tropical Indo-Pacific, from Madagascar and the Red Sea through the Indian Ocean to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Japan, the South China Sea, Australia and the western Pacific island groups. It is found in various reef habitats and in lagoons in the subtidal zone, at depths down to about 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 tenuidens carries symbiotic zooxanthellae and is an active feeder like the rest of its genus. Spot-feeding with mysis, planktonic foods and amino acids supports its energy needs, and gentle flow not directed at the polyps allows them to extend fully. Goniopora are demanding corals best kept by experienced aquarists.
Compatibility
The coral is reef-safe with fish and shrimp but moderately aggressive toward neighbouring corals, so the colony needs clear surrounding space. Because it is demanding, a well-established tank of about a year or older is advised.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. The species is common, has a wide range and a large population, and shows greater resistance to bleaching than many other corals.
Goniopora tenuidens Propagation Guide
Overview
Goniopora tenuidens is a flowerpot coral in the family Poritidae with thin, slender polyps. Its daisy-like polyps each bear around 24 tentacles around a central mouth, the trait distinguishing Goniopora from the twelve-tentacle Alveopora. It is among the slower-growing members of the genus.
Reproductive Mode
Goniopora reproduces sexually by spawning, with captive observations of hermaphroditic egg-and-sperm bundles and planula larvae settling within days, and asexually by budding and fragmentation.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Propagation is by cutting the colony into pieces that each retain living polyps and mounting them to heal. With its slow growth, recovery and regrowth take longer than in faster species, and growers report the best results when starting from fragged, aquacultured colonies rather than wild-collected ones.
- Cut the colony into pieces that each keep healthy slender polyps.
- Mount the frags and allow extra time for slow recovery.
- Begin with fragged or aquacultured stock for reliability.
Conditions for Propagation
Stable water with medium light and gentle flow, supported by periodic feeding, helps frags re-establish. Given the slow growth, patience and consistency matter more than for quicker corals.
Common Challenges
Goniopora has a long-standing reputation for slow decline in captivity, and the slow-growing tenuidens demands particularly stable, long-term care. Aquaculture and established frags have improved survival, but it remains an advanced coral.