Colonial Tunicate

Care Summary

Colonial Tunicates are clusters of translucent, barrel-shaped filter feeders that grow together in grape-like colonies on rockwork, and their jewel-like appearance in blue, purple, or pink makes them a genuinely underrated addition to a mature reef display. They attach naturally to shaded overhangs and the undersides of rock shelves in low-to-moderate flow, and they are completely peaceful with corals, fish, and other invertebrates. The main challenge is that tunicates are very sensitive to elevated nutrients and dissolved organics, so they tend to crash in tanks that are not consistently well-maintained or that experience nitrate spikes. Feed phytoplankton and nano-particle foods two to three times per week, and target low-nutrient, high-flow areas of the tank to give them the best chance of long-term survival.