What should my first corals be? *Autism friendly*

[Tamberav]

So soft corals like leathers are toxic as well. Not on the same level as palys but they can definitely make you ill.

I would probably go for some tough encrusters like Cyphastrea coral. Something difficult to even get out of the tank.

I wonder if building a canopy with a lock would keep fingers out?

Almost any coral in the mouth or hands in mouth after playing with coral is bad news.

 

[PotatoPig]

Seconding GSP and Pulsing Xenia as crowd pleasers, just keep them on their own rocks so you can manage them.

They grow fast, are not fussy about water quality, provide nice movement, the GSP is a very vivid color if your kid likes that, while the Xenia shows a bit more movement.

Firework Clove Polyps are another option that are easy and look nice.

IMO I’d probably avoid most LPS and SPS for your purposes here, other than perhaps hammer corals, partly because they’re slow growing, partly because they’re a little tougher to grow, and partly because they don’t do as much, and partly because they can attack their neighbors which will be an issue in a small tank, which may all be counter to your goals here.

 

[Fish & Coral Store]

Hey everyone! I have a 14g cube, I want to get some corals into it. I’ve never bought corals and this is my first SW tank. We have an autistic son that doesn’t understand the danger of certain things so I want to stay away from zoas and palys. We love torches and hammers but after some research I don’t want my clown fish or anything in the tank to get hurt or eaten. Any recommendations on some fun or unique corals for beginners?

For your 14g cube, I’d recommend starting with beginner-friendly corals like Leathers (Toadstool or Finger Leathers), Mushrooms (Ricordea or Discosoma), and Candy Cane Corals. These corals are hardy, colorful, and generally safe for fish like your clownfish. Open Brain and Acanthastrea corals are also great options for adding variety and color. While Torches and Hammers are beautiful, they can be aggressive, so it's best to place them carefully to avoid any issues with your fish. These softer and LPS corals will be perfect as you start your reefing journey!