Pearl Bubble Coral Care Guide
Pearl Bubble Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini) is a LPS coral. Care covers 50-125 PAR, low flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Pearl Bubble Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini) is a LPS coral in the family Euphylliidae. Pearl-vesicle bubble coral with smaller and more numerous bubbles than Plerogyra. Also produces sweepers at night.
Taxonomy
- Family: Euphylliidae
- Genus: Physogyra
- Scientific name: Physogyra lichtensteini
- Common synonyms: Pearl Coral, Octobubble
Habitat
In the wild, Physogyra lichtensteini is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a massive growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 50-125 PAR
- Water flow: low
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Physogyra lichtensteini hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, reef-roids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.1-0.3 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for massive colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Pearl Bubble Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini) Propagation Guide
Overview
Physogyra lichtensteini, the pearl bubble coral, is a large-polyp stony coral in the family Plerogyridae found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It has smaller, pearl-shaped vesicles than Plerogyra, with a tear-drop finish, displayed during the day and replaced by open polyps at night. Colonies are generally massive and meandroid, with short, widely separated valleys, and it is common in lagoons and on reef slopes.
Reproductive Mode
Like its relatives in the Plerogyridae, the pearl bubble coral is propagated asexually in aquaria by dividing the skeleton between heads. Its massive, meandroid colony, built of short valleys interconnected by a light, blistery coenosteum, lets a keeper cut between the separate valleys to make new pieces. Fragging is possible when the cut follows the skeleton rather than the soft vesicles.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
- Work when the bubbles are deflated and the polyps and tentacles are pulled in.
- Identify the short, widely separated valleys in the meandroid skeleton.
- Cut carefully through the bare coenosteum and skeleton between valleys with a band saw.
- Avoid cutting through the inflated pearl vesicles, which are delicate and tear easily.
- Mount each piece in low flow and moderate light and let the tissue heal over the cut.
Dividing along the natural valleys of the meandroid skeleton keeps the vesicle tissue intact on each new piece.
Conditions for Propagation
Pearl bubble corals live in lagoons and on reef slopes to depths beyond 38 m and do best under moderate lighting and low flow that let the vesicles inflate. Stable temperature near 24-26 degrees Celsius, pH 8.1-8.4, and steady alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium support recovery of the cut frags.
Common Challenges
Pearl bubbles are hardy but aggressive: they can send out sweeper tentacles both day and night that sting neighboring corals, so frags must be placed with open space around them. The pearl vesicles are also delicate, so any cut should follow the skeleton and the coral must be handled gently while submerged.