Animal-World > Coral Reef > Large Polyp Stony Corals > Candycane Coral

Caulastrea furcata

Photos courtesy: John Rice

   This coral is very similar to the "Trumpet" coral C. echinulata. echinulata. The main differences in appearance, as shown by the pictures below, are that the trumpet is generally less colorful and the polyps extend further from the skeleton on at the edges giving it the look of a trumpet. Also, the trumpets' polyps are much more closely packed to give the appearance of one large coral.

Lighting - Water flow:
   It likes low water movement. It requires medium to strong light. These corals will expand in the morning before the lights are turned on and put out a circle of long tenacles similar to the pistols in a flower. Very interesting to watch!

Difficulty of Care:
   This coral is easy to care for, it can be recommended to beginners. They can be fed when the tentacles extend but it is not necessary to do so.

Aggressiveness:
   This sweeper tenacles are short and seldom bother anything around them. This is not a very aggressive species.

Differences between Candycane and Trumpet Corals
Candycane polyps are more colorful and loosely packed.	Trumpet polyps extend out like a trumpet and are tightly packed.

Photos courtesy: John Rice

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