War Coral (47)

War Coral Care | The Happy Reef

War Coral is a classic encrusting LPS coral, usually recognised by its strongly contrasting fluorescent eyes against a darker red or burgundy base. Despite often being grouped with Favias in the aquarium trade, the coral commonly sold as War Coral is generally from the genus Favites.

It is a relatively hardy LPS once established and gradually encrusts across the rock beneath it. War Corals can develop into impressive colonies and their contrasting corallites fluoresce particularly strongly under blue-spectrum reef lighting.

Scientific Name: Favites sp. (exact species cannot reliably be determined from the trade name alone)

PAR: 75?150

Flow: Low to moderate. Provide enough movement to keep the colony clean without continuously blasting the fleshy polyps.

Placement: Low Third to Mid Third

Feeding: Beneficial but not essential. War Corals are photosynthetic but readily capture small meaty foods and suitable coral foods. Occasional target feeding when the feeding tentacles are extended can support growth.

Care Notes: The name "War Coral" is quite appropriate when it comes to its neighbours. Favites can extend sweeper tentacles after dark and deliver a strong sting, so leave a reasonable gap around the colony. Stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium will support healthy skeletal growth.