Stylophora pistillata
| Care Level | Intermediate — hardy SPS |
| Lighting | Moderate to high |
| Water Flow | Moderate to high |
| Placement | Mid to upper rock |
| Aggression | Peaceful |
| Coloration | Pink, green, purple; "Cats Paw" morphs |
Overview
Stylophora (the “Cat’s Paw” or “Club Finger” coral) forms sturdy, rounded branches and is one of the hardiest, most forgiving SPS corals — an excellent stepping-stone toward Acropora. It colors up in pinks, greens, and purples.
Care & Placement
Give moderate-to-high light and moderate-to-high flow. Mount mid-to-upper on rock. More tolerant of minor parameter swings than Acropora, which makes it a reliable early SPS. Stable alkalinity still matters.
Feeding
Photosynthetic; feeding is optional. Stable calcium/alkalinity/magnesium and good light drive growth and color far more than feeding.
Propagation
Very easy to frag — cut or snap a branch and glue to a plug.
Full step-by-step: How to Frag Acropora and Other Branching SPS
Cautions
Hardy for an SPS but still sensitive to big alkalinity swings. Provide good flow to keep the branches clean. Peaceful toward neighbors.