Acanthophyllia

Acanthophyllia, commonly known as meat corals, are large solitary LPS with incredibly fleshy tissue that can expand to impressive sizes. They are high-value collector corals, with premium multi-colour specimens commanding significant prices. Place them on the sand bed or a flat surface on lower rockwork under low to moderate PAR (50–100 PAR) with very gentle flow. Strong current prevents the tissue from fully expanding and can cause long-term stress.

Maintain stable water parameters: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Acanthophyllia are voracious feeders and respond dramatically to target feeding — offer meaty foods like mysis, chopped prawn, or pellets once or twice weekly. When well-fed, the tissue inflates enormously, revealing stunning colour patterns that can include reds, greens, oranges, and multi-colour combinations. Regular feeding is essential for maintaining tissue health.

Acanthophyllia are solitary polyps and cannot be fragged — each coral is a unique individual, which partly explains their collector value. They have short sweeper tentacles and should be given moderate clearance from neighbours. Handle with extreme care during transport as the fleshy tissue bruises easily. Australian specimens are available through specialist coral retailers and represent some of the finest meat corals in the global hobby.