ORA Nepthea Coral

Quick facts

Handling caution: Releases terpenoid chemical defenses that can irritate skin and harm sensitive stony corals; wear gloves when fragging

Identity

Also known as

Cauliflower coral; Tree coral; Soft leather coral

Synonyms

Nephthya sp.

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Australia, Great Barrier Reef

Habitat

Shallow reef slopes and lagoons with moderate to strong water movement, attached to rock or rubble substrate

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Coral type

Soft

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Growth form

Branching

Adult size

1 – 12 in (2.5 – 30 cm)

Spread

18 in (46 cm)

Growth rate

Fast

Placement

Middle, High

Water

Temperature

75 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.024 – 1.026 SG

PAR

75 – 250 PAR

Flow

Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Low

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Pink, Green, Brown, Red, Cream

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Coral food, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

The ORA Nepthea Coral is an aquacultured soft branching species with tan tissue and fine polyps lining each stalk. It sways continuously in moderate flow and tolerates a range of lighting, making it forgiving for reef keepers who want quick upward growth. Give it open space, as it stings or overgrows corals it contacts.

Care

Nephthea is a hardy branching soft coral that does well under low to moderate lighting and moderate water flow that makes its polyps sway gently. It periodically retracts its polyps and sheds a waxy film over its tissue, a normal process that discourages algae growth and can last a week or two before the colony reopens. Give it plenty of open water space above and around it since it grows upward quickly and can shade or irritate neighboring corals as it expands.

Placement & acclimation

Mount fragments or colonies on exposed rockwork or rubble using coral-safe glue or putty, positioning them where they will receive moderate flow and low to moderate light. Acclimate gradually to brighter lighting over a couple of weeks if moving from a lower-light system, since sudden increases can stress the tissue. Leave several inches of open space on all sides to allow for its fast upward and outward growth.

Feeding

Most of its nutrition comes from the zooxanthellae housed in its tissue, so strong lighting alone will sustain a colony long term. Occasional target or broadcast feeding of phytoplankton, small particulate coral foods, and amino acid supplements can improve growth rate and coloration. Overfeeding is unnecessary and can foul water quality without much added benefit.

Neighbors

Keep several inches of clearance from other corals since Nephthea will sting or overgrow anything it contacts as it spreads. It releases mild chemical defenses into the water that can slow the growth of more sensitive stony corals nearby, so dosing carbon or running additional chemical filtration helps in a mixed reef. Avoid placing delicate SPS directly downstream of a large colony.

Fragging

Frag by cutting healthy branches from the parent colony with clean scissors or a scalpel. Place the cuttings among loose coral rubble in an area of very low flow, where they will attach to the rubble within a few days before being glued to a plug or rock. Handle with gloves since the tissue releases irritating chemical compounds when cut.

Pests & problems

A shrinking, film-covered appearance lasting one to two weeks is a normal shedding cycle rather than a sign of illness, and the colony typically reopens larger afterward. Persistent retraction beyond a few weeks paired with tissue recession can indicate poor water flow, insufficient light, or an unstable alkalinity/calcium balance. Nephthea has no known pest issues but can suffer if kept in a tank with excessive nutrient swings.

Sources

1. Tidal Gardens - Koji Wada Pink Nephthea
2. ECC Koji Pink Nephthea - Bulk Reef Supply
3. Koji Wada Pink Nepthea – UniqueCorals
4. UC Koji Wada Rare Pink Nepthea 1" Stock Frag – Manhattan Aquariums

Varieties in the catalog

ECC Koji Pink Nephthea

More Soft corals

ECC Kenya Tree LeatherORA Kenya Tree Coral