Propagating Stylophora pistillata (Cat's Paw Coral)
Propagating the branching SPS Stylophora pistillata: cutting blunt-tipped branches and gluing to plugs, plus its role as a major scientific model coral.
Overview
Stylophora pistillata, the cat's paw or club finger coral, is a branching coral of the family Pocilloporidae with broad, blunt-ended branches that thicken and become more submassive with age. Colonies reach about 30 cm across, show cream, pink, bluish or green coloration, and host symbiotic zooxanthellae. The genus ranges from the Red Sea throughout the Indo-Pacific.
Reproductive Mode
Stylophora pistillata is one of the most-studied reef corals and serves as a major scientific model species. In the aquarium it is propagated asexually by cutting branches, while in nature it also reproduces sexually.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Branching Stylophora is easy to frag. Cut a blunt branch tip with coral cutters and glue it to a plug; the thick branches handle cutting well. Coral cutters are inexpensive and can be used inside the tank.
- Cut a branch tip a few centimetres long with coral cutters.
- Apply cyanoacrylate glue to a frag plug.
- Seat the branch base, hold about 30 seconds, then return it to the tank.
- Restore good flow and light within a few hours.
Conditions for Propagation
In nature the species inhabits exposed habitats with strong water movement at depths to about 15 m. The Aquairi record targets medium-high light (about 150-300 PAR), medium-high flow and 24-26 C.
Sexual Reproduction
Because it is widely used as a model organism, the species' development has been mapped in detail, including single-cell atlases of adult, primary-polyp and larval stages, and its genome has been used to study the genes that drive coral calcification. This research base makes S. pistillata a reference point for understanding coral reproduction and skeleton building.
Common Challenges
The IUCN lists Stylophora pistillata as Near Threatened, reflecting its vulnerability to coral bleaching and habitat loss. In the aquarium it is sensitive to unstable parameters, so keep alkalinity and temperature steady during and after fragging.