Indophyllia

Indophyllia is a solitary meat coral: the whole animal is a single enormous polyp, a thick mantle of flesh folded over a heavy skeleton. The farm piece photographed here is rust red, its broad oral disc patterned with pale radial streaks running out from the central mouth, the disc rim ringed by a beaded crown of short tentacles.

Care

A sand-bed coral — set it on the sand, never wedged into rockwork where the flesh can tear as it inflates. Low to medium light and gentle flow suit it. It is a feeder: after lights-out, short tentacles come out around the disc and it takes meaty foods gladly. Give it clear space from neighbours.