ORA Green Pocillopora damicornis Coral

Quick facts

Handling caution: Short sweeper tentacles can sting neighboring corals; minor skin irritation possible with prolonged contact

Identity

Also known as

Cauliflower Coral; Lace Coral; Brush Coral

Synonyms

Pocillopora cespitosa; Pocillopora brevicornis

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Indonesia

Habitat

Shallow reef fronts, lagoons, and mangrove edges from about 3-50 feet, often in areas with strong wave action and occasional low-tide exposure

Sourcing

Both

Conservation

Near Threatened

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

SPS

Temperament

Peaceful

Growth form

Branching

Adult size

1 – 12 in (2.5 – 30 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Middle, High

Water

Temperature

74 – 80 °F (23 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 12 dKH

Salinity

1.023 – 1.026 SG

PAR

150 – 320 PAR

Flow

Moderate-High

Light

High

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Low

Alk/Ca uptake

High

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

3 in (7.6 cm)

Colors

Green, Pink, Purple, Brown

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Zooplankton, Coral food, Phytoplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Releases stray polyps that drift and settle into new colonies, a normal reproductive habit of this species. Short, densely packed branches show bright yellow-green tones with fine green polyp extension under 150-250 PAR and medium to high flow. A fast-growing, beginner-friendly SPS for stable reef systems.

Care

Cauliflower coral is one of the fastest-growing and most forgiving SPS species, making it a reasonable entry point for aquarists moving up from softies and LPS, though it still requires stable, low-nutrient reef conditions to do well long term. It adapts across a wide PAR range but colors intensify under strong lighting once acclimated slowly to brighter positions. Moderate to strong, varied flow keeps the branch surfaces clean and prevents tissue recession at the base of the colony.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate new frags to lighting gradually, starting in a lower or mid-tank position around 150-250 PAR before moving toward brighter spots as the colony colors up. Mount frag plugs securely to rock or substrate with reef-safe cyanoacrylate glue or epoxy, choosing a spot with good water exchange but not so aggressive that it blasts one side of the colony.

Feeding

Most energy comes from photosynthesis via zooxanthellae, so daily feeding is not mandatory, but growth and polyp extension improve with supplemental feedings. Offer fine zooplankton such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops, or coral-specific blends a couple times a week, broadcast near the colony so polyps can capture drifting particles. Target feeding is not required but is beneficial for coloration and vigor.

Neighbors

Generally considered peaceful, but its sweeper tentacles can reach and irritate corals placed too close, so keep roughly 3 inches of clearance from neighbors. Avoid direct contact with more aggressive stingers like torch, elegance, or chalice corals, and be cautious near Cyphastrea, which can damage Pocillopora tissue on contact. Growth over time can crowd out slower species, so periodic pruning or spacing adjustments help maintain a tidy reefscape.

Fragging

Frags easily with a pair of shears or a coral cutter, cutting healthy branch tips and mounting them to plugs or rubble. The species also self-propagates through polyp bailout, where loose polyps drift and settle to form new satellite colonies elsewhere in the tank.

Pests & problems

Watch for shaded-base dieback where lower branches lose tissue from insufficient light or flow reaching the colony interior. Polyp bailout is common in this species, where individual polyps detach and settle elsewhere in the tank to form new volunteer colonies, which is a normal stress or reproductive response rather than a disease. Sudden parameter swings, especially in alkalinity or temperature, are riskier than modestly imperfect but stable conditions.

Sources

1. Pocillopora Coral Care Guide - Tips For Keeping Damicornis
2. Pocillopora Coral Care Guide | Coral Identifier
3. Section: Corals - Stony: Species: Pocillopora damicornis (Cauliflower Coral, Lace Coral)
4. LiveAquaria® CCGC Aquacultured Pink Peony Pocillopora Coral

Varieties in the catalog

ORA Pink & Green Pocillopora damicornis CoralORA Pink Pocillopora Coral