Why is my Bubble Coral not opening?

A retracted Bubble Coral is often reacting to unfavourable conditions such as excessive water flow, incorrect lighting, poor water quality, or irritation from a nearby coral or nipping fish. Ensure the flow is gentle enough that the bubbles sway slightly but are not blasted against the skeleton.

Can I place my Bubble Coral near the top of the tank?

It is not recommended. Bubble Corals generally prefer lower to moderate lighting. Placing them under intense lighting near the top of the tank can cause bleaching or cause the coral to keep its vesicles tightly retracted to avoid light shock.

How and when should I feed my Bubble Coral?

It is best to feed them when their feeding tentacles are visible, which is usually shortly after the main tank lights go out. You can gently spray mysis shrimp or other meaty foods over the tentacles using a turkey baster or feeding pipette.

Why does my Bubble Coral have long tentacles at night?

Those are sweeper tentacles. The coral uses them to capture zooplankton from the water column and to sting any competing corals that might be encroaching on its space. They are completely normal but highlight the need for adequate spacing.

Is it normal for clownfish to live in a Bubble Coral?

Yes, in aquariums without a suitable host anemone, clownfish will sometimes adopt LPS corals with large, fleshy polyps or vesicles, such as the Bubble Coral. While often harmless, keep an eye on the coral to ensure the fish isn't irritating it to the point of permanent retraction.

MarineCoralsIntermediate

Bubble Coral

Plerogyra sinuosa

A striking large-polyp stony (LPS) coral celebrated for its distinctive, grape-like fleshy vesicles that inflate during the day.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 26 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025 SG
Adult size: 15 – 30 cm
Minimum colony volume: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 50 years
Diet: Photosynthetic and carnivorous; requires zooxanthellae light supplementation alongside meaty foods.
Water flow: Low to moderate
Preferred setup: Mature reef aquarium with stable parameters and plenty of clearance from other corals.

About the Bubble Coral

The Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) is one of the most visually fascinating large-polyp stony (LPS) corals in the marine hobby. Its appearance completely changes from day to night; under daylight, it inflates large, water-filled vesicles to maximise surface area for its symbiotic zooxanthellae. At night, these bubbles shrink to reveal a network of long, stinging sweeper tentacles designed to capture prey. Despite its delicate appearance, it features a heavy, blade-like calcareous skeleton beneath the fleshy exterior.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Bubble Coral comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Fiji, Egypt

Habitat

Sheltered reef slopes, caves, and overhangs where light is indirect and water movement is gentle.

Widely distributed across tropical Indo-Pacific coral reefs, generally favouring turbid or shaded lower-energy zones.

Similar species

Pearl Bubble Coral
Physogyra lichtensteini
Hammer Coral
Fimbriaphyllia ancora
Torch Coral
Euphyllia glabrescens
Fox Coral
Nemenzophyllia turbida

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful reef fish that may occasionally use the large fleshy bubbles as a surrogate host without harming the coral.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
An active herbivore that will graze on nuisance algae around the coral without bothering its delicate tissue.
Great
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Dwarf angelfish have a tendency to nip at fleshy LPS corals, which can cause the Bubble Coral to remain retracted and slowly decline.
Compatible with caution
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
While generally considered reef safe, they are known to occasionally steal food from the coral's mouth or irritate the polyps during feeding.
Compatible with caution
Galaxea Coral
Galaxea fascicularis
Both corals possess long, highly potent sweeper tentacles; placing them near each other will result in severe chemical warfare and tissue damage.
Not recommended

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