Why is my Stylophora losing its colour?

Colour loss, or bleaching, in Stylophora is typically caused by inadequate lighting, sudden shifts in water parameters (especially alkalinity), or elevated temperatures. Ensure conditions remain completely stable and gradually acclimate the coral if you are moving it to a higher light zone.

Why are the polyps not extending on my coral?

Poor polyp extension often results from insufficient water flow, poor lighting, or physical irritation from nearby corals and pests. Polyps may also retract naturally at certain times of the day or immediately after maintenance activities.

How fast does Stylophora grow?

Under optimal conditions featuring high lighting, strong flow, and stable calcium and alkalinity levels, Stylophora is one of the faster-growing SPS corals. It is capable of rapidly encrusting its base and growing several centimetres in branch length per year.

Can I place Stylophora next to other SPS corals?

While it lacks long sweeper tentacles, it can still engage in chemical warfare (allelopathy) and will sting or be stung upon direct contact. Always leave a gap of a few inches to accommodate future growth and prevent aggressive encounters.

Does Stylophora need to be actively fed?

It can survive purely on light via its symbiotic zooxanthellae, but targeted supplemental feeding with micro-plankton, coral snow, or liquid amino acids will noticeably boost its overall health, growth rate, and colouration.

MarineCoralsIntermediate

Stylophora

Stylophora pistillata

Stylophora pistillata is a classic, relatively hardy small polyp stony (SPS) coral renowned for its thick, club-like branches and vibrant colour variations.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.024 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 15 – 30 cm
Standard reef aquarium: 100 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 50 years
Diet: Primarily photosynthetic via symbiotic zooxanthellae; supplemented by absorbing dissolved organic matter and capturing micro-plankton.
Water flow: Moderate to strong, turbulent
Preferred setup: Stable mature reef aquarium with highly efficient biological filtration and stable alkalinity.

About the Stylophora

Commonly known as the Clubbed Finger Coral, *Stylophora pistillata* is a foundational species across Indo-Pacific reefs. Characterised by its blunt, finger-like branches, it is a favourite among aquarists looking to step into the world of SPS corals. The famous 'Milka' strain is highly sought after for its intense purple colouration and fuzzy polyp extension. Although it builds a hard aragonite skeleton, its numerous tiny polyps give the entire colony a distinctly soft, velvety appearance when fully expanded.

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Is it right for your tank?

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Where Stylophora comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Western Indian Ocean

Countries / regions

Australia, Egypt, Indonesia, Fiji, Madagascar

Habitat

Shallow reef environments, reef slopes, and lagoons exposed to intense sunlight and strong wave action.

Similar species

Bird's Nest Coral
Seriatopora hystrix
Cauliflower Coral
Pocillopora damicornis
Montipora Digitata
Montipora digitata

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

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Completely reef safe; clownfish may even adopt large Stylophora colonies as a host if anemones are absent.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
An active herbivore that will help keep nuisance algae off the rocks without harming the coral.
Great
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
Generally employed to eat Aiptasia anemones, but hungry individuals have occasionally been known to irritate or pick at SPS polyps.
Compatible with caution
Copperband Butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
While safer than many other butterflyfish, there is still a high risk it will nip at coral polyps.
Not recommended
Bicolor Parrotfish
Cetoscarus bicolor
Parrotfish are coral predators that will bite through and consume the hard stony skeleton of Stylophora.
Not recommended

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