Chalice Coral

Echinophyllia / Mycedium sp.

Care Level	Moderate
Lighting	Low to moderate
Water Flow	Low to moderate
Placement	Low to mid rock
Aggression	Aggressive — long sweepers
Coloration	Wild colors: eyes, mouths, mottled multicolor morphs

Overview

Chalice corals are encrusting, plating LPS famed for wild, often two- and three-tone coloration with contrasting “eyes” (mouths). Named morphs like “Watermelon,” “Bubblegum,” and “Miami Hurricane” command high prices, but all chalices share the same care. They grow into beautiful plates over rock.

Care & Placement

Give low-to-moderate light and gentle flow — too much light bleaches them, too much flow irritates them; many keepers grow their best chalices in shadier, lower spots. Place low-to-mid on rock with space, as they extend sweeper tentacles.

Feeding

Photosynthetic and feeds well — target-feed small meaty foods weekly, especially at night, to speed the encrusting growth and intensify color.

Propagation

Frag by cutting the plating skeleton with a band saw; include at least one eye (mouth) per frag.

Cautions

AGGRESSIVE — extends long sweeper tentacles at night; keep several inches from other corals. Acclimate slowly to your lighting to avoid bleaching a new chalice.