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Marine   Corals

Tree Coral
(Dendronephthya spp.)

Tree Coral

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

Names

Scientific name
Dendronephthya spp.
Spongodes spp.

Common name
Tree Coral
Colt soft corals
Carnation corals

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

Kind

quel type de corail ?

Kind: Soft coral
Form: its polyps are grouped at the end of its arms and their colour is very variable: pink, red, violet, white, yellow... Its trunk is translucent and capable of swelling with water.

Group

group

Nephtheidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

200 L / 44 imp gal / 53 US gal

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this coral?

T°: 22 à 26°C or 72 to 79°F
pH: 7.5 to 8.5
Density: 1022 to 1028

Difficulty

difficulty

Hard

Size

what is the maximum size of this coral?

15 to 50cm / 6 to 20"

Brewing

Brewing

Average

Lighting

what brightness is needed?

Low

Aggressiveness

Aggressiveness

Low

Food

How to feed the Tree Coral?

Food

How to feed the Tree Coral?

The feeding of this species is the big black spot of its maintenance in reef aquariums. Indeed, this coral is very difficult to feed and its chances of survival in a closed aquarium are slim (only about 10%).

The Spiny Alcyonaria does not have zooxanthellae (non-photosynthetic) and therefore does not need light to develop.

It feeds on plankton and substances dissolved in the water, which it captures with its tentacles and by swelling itself with water. Therefore, this coral needs to be fed once or twice a day with a nutritious liquid intended for this purpose. You can use live/frozen rotifers, frozen lobster eggs, frozen microplankton, Fauna, marine, ultra, red plankton, reef, pearls and especially reef paste. Also stir the surface of the sand from time to time so that the corals can feed on the bacteria.

Dendronephthya

Tip: Use a pipette to ensure proper nutrition of all polyps.

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Tree Coral?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Tree Coral?

Like many soft corals, this species will find its place anywhere in the tank as long as it is in the shade.

Breeding

How to breed the Tree Coral?

Breeding

How to breed the Tree Coral?

In nature, there are male and female colonies. This species can therefore reproduce sexually.

In the aquarium, you can multiply your colony in two ways: by dividing the mother plant or by cutting a branch.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Tree Coral?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Tree Coral?

This coral likes dark places. Favour wide-open caves, nooks and crannies and deep areas.

Allow 50 L / 11 Imp Gal / 14 US Gal per colony so that each one feels comfortable.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Dendronephthya

Extremely difficult to maintain over the long term in a reef aquarium, opt instead for Cladiella, which are much more suitable for aquarium keeping.

You can set up your colony on an overhang that is not too exposed but well stirred. In this case, it is possible that it will grow downwards: guaranteed effect!

There are more than 250 varieties of Dendronephthya, very difficult to differentiate. From many of them, substances used in the medical field are extracted.

Because of its weakness, its stinging aggressiveness and its difficulty in catching prey, Dendronephthya has become herbivorous;!

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

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