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Coral Guide |  |
Family: Nephtheidae (Octocorals)
Habitat: Found upside-down under overhangs, or on reef slopes with strong current
Light: Medium Water Flow: High Space: 100+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Difficult (?) Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: The octocorals are generally polytrophic - getting nutrition from zooxanthellae (algae) in their tissues, nutrient uptake from the seawater, and feeding on microplankton.
Natural History: Scleronephthya is very similar to Dendronephthya but has a shorter stalk, lacks sclerites (for the most part) in its polyps, and is less branched.
Husbandry: With regular planktonic feedings, Scleronephthya is reported to have a fair success rate.