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Coral Guide |  |
Family: Nephtheidae (Octocorals)
Habitat: Found in deeper sloped reef areas with current.
Light: Medium Water Flow: High Space: 100+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Easy 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: Capnella forms thick stalks with numerous polyps on the tips of its polyp branches. Species identification generally requires examination of its sclerites. Capnella relies more on dissolved organic material for its nutrition than its zooxanthallae. Large specimens exceed 8 inches in length.
Husbandry: Kenya Tree Coral is more absorptive than photosynthetic, so dissolved organic material must be present for it to survive. It can be damaged by contact with stony coral polyps. They have been reproduced by branchlet dropping and by fission.
AKA: Tree Coral, Cauliflower Soft Coral