ORA Easter Egg Chalice Coral

Quick facts

Handling caution: Can sting via sweeper tentacles and toxic mucus; handle with gloves and avoid contact with skin

Identity

Also known as

Oxypora chalice

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indonesia, Australia, Fiji, Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Reef slopes and ledges in shaded, low-light areas with gentle to moderate water movement

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Aggressive

Growth form

Plating

Adult size

1.5 – 8 in (3.8 – 20 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Low, Middle

Water

Temperature

76 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

7.5 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.025 – 1.026 SG

PAR

30 – 100 PAR

Flow

Low-Moderate

Light

Low

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

6 in (15 cm)

Colors

Pink, Yellow, Multicolor

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Frozen, Coral food, Zooplankton, Phytoplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Frags measure roughly 1.5 inches across a cement aragonite disk and expand into thin plating with age. Pink tissue surrounds bright yellow oral disks, colors best expressed under diffused, lower-tier lighting. As with other Oxypora chalices, keepers should give it wide berth from neighbors and expect nocturnal sweeper tentacle activity.

Care

This chalice coral does best low in the tank where light is diffused, since its thin tissue bleaches or loses color quickly under intense illumination. Gentle, indirect flow across the plate keeps detritus from settling on the surface without stressing the fragile rim. Give it generous clearance from neighboring corals, as it extends sweeper tentacles after dark and can damage adjacent tissue on contact. Once placed on stable rockwork it should be left undisturbed, since frequent relocation increases the risk of recession.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate gradually to light by starting in a shaded, lower position and raising PAR slowly over several weeks to avoid bleaching. Mount frags on stable rockwork low in the tank using reef-safe epoxy or by wedging into a rock crevice, allowing room for the plate to expand outward without obstruction. Avoid placing it in direct line of flow from powerheads, which can stress the delicate rim.

Feeding

Most of its nutrition comes from zooxanthellae, so supplemental feeding is optional rather than essential. Occasional target feeding with fine meaty foods such as minced mysis, rotifers, or reef roid style blends a few nights a week can improve coloration and growth. Broadcast feeding amino acids or planktonic foods once or twice weekly is usually sufficient given its modest appetite compared to other LPS.

Neighbors

Keep at least four to six inches of open space between this coral and any neighbor, since its sweeper tentacles and mucus can injure less aggressive corals overnight. It is best kept away from other chalices and encrusting LPS that might compete for the same rockwork. Fish that peck at LPS flesh, such as some butterflyfish, should be avoided in the same system.

Fragging

Fragging is done by carefully cutting or breaking off sections of the plating skeleton with a coral saw or shears, since the thin structure is brittle and easily cracked. Fresh cuts should be allowed to heal in low-flow, low-light conditions for several weeks before being moved to a permanent display position. Handle frags minimally during this recovery period to reduce the chance of infection or tissue recession.

Pests & problems

Watch the thin plating edge for vermetid snails, hydroids, or detritus buildup, since these can erode tissue along the margin over time. Excess light or sudden PAR increases often cause bleaching or washed-out color rather than immediate tissue loss. Gaping tissue with exposed skeleton signals stress from unstable alkalinity, temperature swings, or chemical irritation from nearby corals, and warrants checking parameters and reducing flow or light temporarily.

Sources

1. ORA Easter Egg Chalice Coral - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Aquacultured Easter Egg Chalice Coral (Oxypora sp.) - ORA
3. Chalice Coral Care Guide - Lighting, Flow, Placement & Feeding
4. Buy Oxypora Coral Online in Australia | AussieReefing

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