Carnation Corals, in the genus Dendronephthya, are also
known as Cauliflower Corals, Tree Corals, and Strawberry Corals. They
are often a deep red, orange, green or pink color giving it some
variations of its common name. They are some of the most stunning
examples of soft coral available for the home aquarium. When inserted
into a reef environment, Carnation Corals immediately become the
centerpiece.
They exhibit high levels of
movement with tank currents and have bright, exuberant colors. However,
these corals are not for beginner aquarists as they are a relatively
difficult coral to care for. Carnation Corals are non-photosynthetic so
they do not require high levels of light, but do require a strong
current in the tank.
They will eat
plankton the are moving in the current but should also be direct fed
specialty food for filter feeding invertebrates. The Carnation Coral is
fickle and will only thrive in the most pristine tank environment. Be
warned while housing the Carnation Coral with nudibranchs as some
species can be harmful to the coral.