Oxypora

Oxypora are delicate, thin-plating chalice corals with ruffled edges and stunning colour patterns. They prefer the shadiest areas of your tank with low PAR (30–75 PAR) and very gentle flow. Their thin plates are fragile and can be damaged by strong current or careless handling. Place them on stable lower rockwork where they can plate outward without interference.

Stable water chemistry is essential: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Oxypora are slow growers and primarily photosynthetic, though occasional target feeding with fine coral foods can support growth. They are less demanding feeders than many other LPS — broadcast feeding reef roids or amino acids once weekly is usually sufficient.

Oxypora can extend sweeper tentacles at night, so provide clearance from neighbouring corals. Fragging is possible by carefully breaking or cutting plates, but the thin skeleton is brittle and requires a gentle touch. Allow frags to recover for several weeks in a low-stress environment before moving them to their permanent position. Australian hobbyists will find Oxypora chalices available through specialist coral retailers, with some impressive locally propagated colour morphs on the market.