Why is my Goniopora not opening?

Polyp retraction is usually a sign of stress. This can be caused by excessive water flow, incorrect lighting, poor water chemistry, or irritation from a tank mate like a clownfish or a nearby stinging coral.

How often should I feed my Goniopora?

It is recommended to target feed your Goniopora 2 to 3 times a week using a mix of liquid micro-plankton, rotifers, or specialised coral powder foods, ideally with the circulation pumps temporarily turned off.

Is Goniopora an SPS or LPS coral?

Goniopora is classified as a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral. Despite having a dense, encrusting skeleton, its large, fleshy polyps behave and feed much like other LPS corals.

How much space does a Goniopora need?

You should leave at least 15 cm of space between a Goniopora and neighbouring corals to account for the full extension of its polyps and any potential sweeper tentacles it may produce.

MarineCoralsAdvanced

Goniopora

Goniopora spp.

A beautiful but challenging large polyp stony (LPS) coral known for its long, daisy-like polyps.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 26 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.024 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 10 – 30 cm
Small reef tank: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 20 years
Diet: Photosynthetic and planktivorous; requires regular target feeding of microplankton and coral snow.
Water flow: Moderate and random
Preferred setup: Stable reef environment with mature filtration

About the Goniopora

Goniopora, commonly referred to as the Flowerpot Coral, is a striking genus of large polyp stony corals. They are renowned for their magnificent, elongated polyps that sway rhythmically in the current. Each individual polyp features exactly 24 tentacles, distinguishing it from the closely related Alveopora, which has 12. They are available in a spectacular array of colours, including neon green, red, pink, and purple, often with contrasting oral discs.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Goniopora against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Goniopora comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Fiji, Philippines

Habitat

Lagoon and turbid reef environments with nutrient-rich water.

Widely distributed across tropical reefs in the Indo-Pacific.

Similar species

Alveopora
Alveopora spp.
Duncan Coral
Duncanopsammia axifuga

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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Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
Peaceful reef fish that swim in the water column and will not disturb the coral's delicate polyps.
Great
Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Clownfish may attempt to use the Goniopora as a surrogate anemone, which can severely irritate the coral and cause it to remain retracted.
Compatible with caution
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
May pick at the polyps in an attempt to steal food during target feeding sessions, causing stress to the coral.
Compatible with caution
Acropora
Acropora spp.
Goniopora has potent sweeper tentacles that will sting and damage neighbouring SPS corals if placed too closely.
Not recommended

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