Bubble Coral

Plerogyra sinuosa

Care Level Easy to moderate
Lighting Low to moderate
Water Flow Low
Placement Low to mid rock
Aggression Aggressive — very long sweepers
Coloration Cream, pearl, green bubbles

Overview

The Bubble Coral inflates rows of grape-like, water-filled vesicles during the day, giving it a soft, shimmering appearance, then extends feeding tentacles at night. Hardy and long-lived, it is a beautiful and unusual LPS — but it packs some of the longest, most potent sweeper tentacles in the hobby.

Care & Placement

Give low-to-moderate light and LOW flow — strong flow tears the delicate bubbles. Place low-to-mid on secure rock with lots of clearance from other corals. The bubbles inflate in light and deflate at night as feeder tentacles emerge.

Feeding

Photosynthetic and a strong feeder — at night it extends sweeper/feeder tentacles; target-feed meaty foods (mysis, chopped seafood) once or twice a week after dark.

Propagation

Branching bubble corals can be fragged by carefully cutting the skeleton, but the delicate tissue makes this a task for experienced keepers.

Cautions

VERY AGGRESSIVE — its sweeper tentacles can reach several inches and sting corals to death; give it wide berth. The bubbles are fragile — keep flow gentle and never handle the inflated vesicles.