Daisy Polyps (Pachyclavularia violacea) Care Guide

Pachyclavularia violacea, sold as daisy polyps, is a fast-spreading encrusting octocoral now treated as a synonym of Briareum violaceum.

Overview

Pachyclavularia violacea, sold as daisy polyps, is an encrusting soft coral with a mat base and bright star-shaped polyps, closely resembling green star polyps but typically with a purple base. It is beginner-friendly and a fast spreader.

Taxonomy

Family: Briareidae
Order: Scleralcyonacea
Class: Octocorallia
Scientific name (trade): Pachyclavularia violacea
Note: WoRMS lists Pachyclavularia violacea as a synonym of Briareum violaceum (Quoy & Gaimard, 1833); the genus Pachyclavularia has been subsumed into Briareum.

Habitat

Specimens in the trade originate from the Indo-Pacific, where these encrusting octocorals cover hard reef substrate. Hobby labels overlap heavily, and many corals sold as Pachyclavularia, Briareum or green star polyps are the same or closely related taxa.

Tank requirements

Temperature: 24-26 C (75-79 F)
pH: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness (KH): 8-11 dKH
Calcium: 380-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
Lighting: ~50-200 PAR (medium)
Flow: medium
Minimum tank maturity: 3 months

Feeding

It is photosynthetic, deriving most nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae and absorbing dissolved nutrients from the water. Target feeding is not required.

Compatibility

It is passive and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. Given its rapid growth, isolate it on its own rock to prevent it from overgrowing slower corals.