 |
Coral Guide |  |
Family: Oculinidae (Stony Corals)
Habitat: Galaxea is best found in inshore reef areas with slow-moving and turbid water.
Light: High Water Flow: Medium Space: 50+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: These corals have zooxanthellae which provide much of their nutrition. It is believed they also feed on microzooplankton and directly absorb some nutrients from the water.
Natural History: Galaxea grows colonies with a brittle and easily broken skeleton. Corallites are tubular and their septa are distinctive, leaving spaces between adjacent corallites. Colonies generally grow in an overall rounded shape. Polyp extension generally completely obscures the skeleton below.
Husbandry: Galaxea are vulnerable to brown jelly infections and necrosis. Bright light and higher water flow seem best at getting it to thrive. Turbulent water flow keeps the polyps free of debris. Because of the spaces between adjacent polyps, numerous symbiotic mussels, crabs, and shrimp are associated with Galaxea. It produces long sweeper tentacles (up to 12 inches) and must be located sufficient distances from adjacent corals to prevent aggressive encounters.
AKA: Galaxy Coral, Crystal Coral, Star Coral, Brittle Coral, Durian Coral