Elegance coral ( neon with blue tips)

The Elegance coral is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral. It is one of the most recognizable and beautiful LPS corals because of its long, flowing tentacles and vibrant colors.

Category

• Type: Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral
• Scientific name: Catalaphyllia jardinei
• Family: Euphylliidae
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Growth: Usually forms a single large fleshy polyp over a hard calcium skeleton.

Description

An elegance coral has:

• Long, flowing tentacles that can sway dramatically in the current.
• Bright colors including green, purple, pink, blue, gold, and bi-color varieties.
• A large fleshy body that inflates during the day.
• A hard skeleton underneath that provides its structure.

Healthy elegance corals expand several times larger than their skeleton and have sticky tentacles that readily capture food.

Care Requirements

• Lighting: Moderate (80–150 PAR is a good starting point)
• Flow: Low to moderate, indirect flow. Strong flow can damage the tissue.
• Placement: Sand bed is usually preferred, though some can be placed on stable rock if the tissue is protected.
• Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Salinity: 1.025–1.026
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1400 ppm

Feeding

Although they get much of their energy from their symbiotic algae, they benefit from feeding:

• Mysis shrimp
• Finely chopped shrimp
• Krill pieces
• Reef roids or similar powdered coral foods (occasionally)

Feed about once or twice per week for best growth.

Aggression

Elegance corals are fairly aggressive.

• They have long sweeper tentacles that can sting nearby corals.
• Leave 15–30 cm (6–12 inches) of space around them.

Compatible Tank Mates

Generally compatible with:

• Clownfish (many will host in them)
• Gobies
• Blennies
• Tangs
• Most reef-safe invertebrates

Avoid placing delicate corals within reach of its tentacles.

In a Reef Tank

Many reef keepers consider the elegance coral a showpiece coral because:

• It becomes a focal point in the aquarium.
• It has graceful movement similar to torch corals but with a unique appearance.
• It is hardy once established, particularly Australian specimens.