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.