Ruby Red Cynarina [101]

Red Ruby Cynarina

Type: LPS

Scientific Name: Cynarina lacrymalis

PAR: 50?125

Flow: Low, gentle flow

Placement: Sandbed

Description

Red Ruby Cynarina is a spectacular solitary LPS with a large, fleshy polyp displaying deep ruby-red colouration. When fully inflated, the tissue expands dramatically around its skeleton, giving the coral the oversized, almost translucent appearance that makes Cynarina such distinctive showpiece corals.

A Cynarina is essentially one enormous coral polyp rather than a colony made up of hundreds of individual polyps. The species is sometimes called a Button Coral or Meat Coral, and its ability to inflate its tissue means the living coral can appear considerably larger than the skeleton beneath it.

Why We Like It

There's something brilliant about a coral that's basically one enormous polyp. The deep red ruby colour makes this one particularly striking, but it's the way a Cynarina inflates that gives it real presence. Even without being a huge colony, it looks substantial and completely different from almost every other LPS in the tank.

Care Notes

Cynarina favour gentler flow and moderate to lower lighting. They are photosynthetic but also respond well to occasional feeding with appropriately sized meaty foods such as mysis or finely chopped seafood. Stable reef parameters and a relatively calm position allow the polyp to fully inflate and show its characteristic shape.