Tubastraea sp.
| Care Level | Advanced — must be fed |
| Lighting | None required (NPS) |
| Water Flow | Moderate |
| Placement | Shaded ledge or overhang |
| Aggression | Peaceful |
| Coloration | Brilliant orange, yellow, or black |
Overview
The Sun Coral is a spectacular non-photosynthetic (NPS) LPS whose glowing orange polyps open like a field of tiny suns — but only when fed. It does not rely on light, which means every polyp must be fed by hand, making it a rewarding but demanding coral.
Care & Placement
Because it is non-photosynthetic, place it in a shaded spot (under a ledge or overhang) with moderate flow. It typically keeps its polyps closed until it smells food, then opens fully to feed. Many keepers train it to open on a schedule.
Feeding
MUST be target-fed — this is the whole commitment. Feed every polyp meaty foods (mysis, chopped seafood, enriched brine) several times a week, ideally daily. A feeding chamber or turning off flow while feeding helps. An unfed sun coral slowly starves.
Propagation
Frag by cutting the skeleton between polyps; each polyp can become a new colony. It also produces baby polyps (spat) nearby.
Cautions
Advanced due to feeding demands — skipping feedings leads to starvation and tissue loss. The heavy feeding adds nutrients, so keep up with water changes and nutrient export.