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Candy Cane Coral
Caulastrea furcata
Animalia›Cnidaria›Anthozoa›Merulinidae
📍 Indo-Pacific Reef Systems
Candy Cane Coral (also called Trumpet Coral) is a hardy LPS coral with distinctly separate, trumpet-shaped corallites in green, teal, or cream coloration — often with contrasting stripe or dot patterns reminiscent of candy canes. It is one of the most forgiving LPS corals for new reef keepers, tolerating a wider range of light and flow conditions than most Euphyllia species. New heads bud readily with regular target feeding.
Tank Mates
Hardy reef fish that ignore corals and provide natural movement without aggression
Small, peaceful fish that stay near rockwork and do not disturb coral polyps
Beneficial for reef health; may occasionally pick at coral but generally reef-safe
Peaceful invertebrate that coexists well with LPS corals in established reefs
Algae-eating snail that poses no threat to corals and helps maintain tank cleanliness
Common Diseases
Brown Jelly Disease
Brown, gelatinous film covering coral tissue; rapid tissue recession; polyp retraction
Isolate affected coral, perform 25% water change, increase water flow and aeration, remove affected tissue with clean tools, treat with antibiotics if severe
Coral Bleaching
Loss of color; polyps appear white or pale; reduced feeding response
Check water parameters (temperature, light, nutrients), reduce light intensity temporarily, improve water circulation, ensure stable conditions, perform partial water changes
Polyp Recession
Polyps fail to extend; tissue shrinkage; reduced feeding activity
Verify water parameters (especially calcium and alkalinity), increase target feeding frequency, improve water flow, check for nearby aggressive corals, allow 1-2 weeks recovery time
Pest Infestation (Nudibranchs/Flatworms)
Visible small organisms on coral; tissue damage; polyp damage
Manual removal with tweezers, dip coral in freshwater or coral dip solution, quarantine affected specimen, introduce predatory fish or wrasses if infestation spreads
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Photosynthetic; benefits from target feeding mysis shrimp or reef roids 2x weekly
- flow
- Low to moderate
- lifespan
- Decades
- lighting
- Low to moderate (30–120 PAR)
- placement
- Mid rockwork
- tank size
- 30 gallons minimum reef tank
- temperament
- Peaceful; no significant sweeper tentacles
Water it likes
- ph
- 8.1–8.4
- calcium
- 400–450 ppm
- nitrate
- 1–10 ppm
- salinity
- 1.024–1.026 SG
- magnesium
- 1250–1350 ppm
- phosphate
- 0.03–0.1 ppm
- alkalinity
- 8–11 dKH
- temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)