Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea)
Candy Cane Corals are hardy, beginner-friendly LPS corals found throughout the Indo-Pacific on protected reef slopes and lagoons. Their fleshy polyps and bright colours make them a popular choice for reef aquariums.
Ideal Water Parameters:
• Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Salinity: 1.025–1.026 SG
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
• Nitrate: 2–15 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.03–0.10 ppm
Placement:
Best placed on the sand bed or lower to mid-level rockwork. They prefer **low to moderate light (50–150 PAR)** and **gentle, indirect flow**. Excessive light or strong flow can cause tissue recession and poor polyp extension.
Feeding:
While they can thrive from photosynthesis alone, they benefit from occasional feeding of mysis shrimp, reef roids, or other fine meaty foods. Feeding after lights out, when feeding tentacles are extended, can encourage faster growth and larger heads.
Getting the Best Results:
Maintain stable parameters, avoid sudden changes in light intensity, and provide enough space from neighbouring corals as their sweeper tentacles can sting nearby specimens. Under stable conditions, Candy Canes grow steadily and can form impressive colonies over time.
Candy Cane Corals are hardy, beginner-friendly LPS corals found throughout the Indo-Pacific on protected reef slopes and lagoons. Their fleshy polyps and bright colours make them a popular choice for reef aquariums.
Ideal Water Parameters:
• Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Salinity: 1.025–1.026 SG
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
• Nitrate: 2–15 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.03–0.10 ppm
Placement:
Best placed on the sand bed or lower to mid-level rockwork. They prefer **low to moderate light (50–150 PAR)** and **gentle, indirect flow**. Excessive light or strong flow can cause tissue recession and poor polyp extension.
Feeding:
While they can thrive from photosynthesis alone, they benefit from occasional feeding of mysis shrimp, reef roids, or other fine meaty foods. Feeding after lights out, when feeding tentacles are extended, can encourage faster growth and larger heads.
Getting the Best Results:
Maintain stable parameters, avoid sudden changes in light intensity, and provide enough space from neighbouring corals as their sweeper tentacles can sting nearby specimens. Under stable conditions, Candy Canes grow steadily and can form impressive colonies over time.
