Candy Cane Coral

Candy cane coral, scientifically known as Caulastraea, is a classic large polyp stony coral that has remained a staple in reef keeping for decades. It is widely appreciated for its hardiness, reliable growth, and striking geometric appearance under typical reef lighting. This piece measures approximately Frag and offers an accessible way to introduce a reliable stony coral into an established marine aquarium.

Each polyp develops at the end of a branching stony skeleton, forming a distinctive trumpet or cane shape. By day, the fleshy tissue expands to cover the skeletal rim, displaying clean, contrasting tones across the oral disc and outer perimeter. After the lights dim, the polyps extend small feeding tentacles around their mouths to capture food particles suspended in the water column. Over time, mature polyps divide down the center through asexual reproduction, slowly developing into a compact, dome-shaped colony.

Caring for Caulastraea is straightforward, making it well-suited to mixed reef aquariums. Place the frag in the lower to middle zone of the tank under moderate lighting with a PAR range around 75 to 150. Water movement should be gentle to moderate, sufficient to prevent detritus from settling between the heads without buffeting or tearing the expanded tissue. Maintain standard reef chemistry with calcium around 400 to 450 ppm, alkalinity between 8 and 9 dKH, and magnesium near 1300 to 1350 ppm. Weekly target feeding with finely chopped mysis or specialized LPS micro-pellets when the tentacles are extended will encourage steady growth. They possess short sweeper tentacles with a mild sting, so allow a few centimetres of buffer space between this piece and neighbouring corals, and acclimate slowly to both your water parameters and lighting.

This is not a WYSIWYG listing; you'll receive a specimen of the same species with similar size and colouration to the one pictured, hand-picked for health and colour.

Please note that colours can look slightly different in person than in photos, depending on your lighting and screen, and the size given is an approximate guide measured at the time of listing.

We take livestock seriously. That's why we don't sell anything we wouldn't be comfortable putting in our own tank.

As we are direct from source, we import and sell direct to the public. This means you can buy with confidence knowing EMA prides itself on excellent handling and conditioning protocols.

Fish

All our fish held in a quarantine system for a minimum of 3 weeks. During this time, regular water changes are performed, and twice daily (or sometimes more) feedings are performed.

Copper is dosed and checked twice a day for ich and velvet.

During this treatment fish are given formalin baths for brooklynella and a minimum of 3 praziquantel doses is performed for flukes.

Coral

Our coral is quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks, just like fish. During this time, regular water changes are performed, water testing done, and once a month a Fauna Marin ICP Total is performed.

Corals are inspected for pests/general health and are provided with a pest dip once a week for at least 3 weeks.

If we see signs of pests, the quarantine period is extended and/or additional dips are performed

If coral is bleached/unhealthy, it will remain in quarantine until healthy enough to sell.