Golden Cyphastrea

Golden Cyphastrea, Cyphastrea spp. and related species, is an encrusting reef-building coral known for its compact growth, textured surface, and strongly contrasting corallites. This specimen displays a rich golden-orange to red-orange base with bright fluorescent yellow-green corallites, creating a vivid spotted pattern across the colony.

Cyphastrea corals typically grow by encrusting over rockwork and other hard surfaces. Their individual corallites project slightly above the surrounding tissue, producing the raised circular structures that give the colony its characteristic textured appearance. As the coral grows, new corallites form along the expanding edge and gradually spread across the surrounding surface.

The Golden Cyphastrea is especially striking because of the contrast between its warm golden-orange and red tissue and the brilliant yellow-green corallites. Under blue-rich reef aquarium lighting, the corallites can fluoresce strongly, producing a bright glowing effect across the colony.

Like other photosynthetic reef-building corals, Cyphastrea contains symbiotic photosynthetic dinoflagellates that provide much of its nutritional energy. The small polyps can also capture very fine suspended plankton and particulate foods from the surrounding water.

Cyphastrea generally performs well under low to moderate lighting and often does not require the intense illumination preferred by many branching reef-building corals. Gradual acclimation is important when moving a specimen into stronger lighting because sudden increases in intensity can cause stress or loss of coloration.

Low to moderate, indirect water movement helps keep the colony surface free of accumulated debris while allowing normal polyp extension. Flow should be sufficient to provide circulation across the entire colony without continuously blasting the tissue.

Stable reef aquarium chemistry is important for long-term growth and coloration. Consistent alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, salinity, temperature, and nutrient levels support healthy skeletal deposition and tissue growth. Maintaining stability is generally more important than frequently adjusting parameters in pursuit of a specific number.

Because several Cyphastrea species can share similar encrusting growth forms and corallite structure, exact species-level identification cannot be made reliably from a photograph alone. For this specimen, Cyphastrea spp. and related species is the most scientifically responsible identification.

Care Guide

Scientific Identification: Cyphastrea spp. and related species
Common Name: Cyphastrea Coral
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Water Flow: Low to Moderate, indirect and variable
Placement: Lower to middle areas of the aquarium depending on lighting intensity
Temperament: Generally peaceful, but provide adequate room for encrusting growth
Reef Compatibility: Reef safe
Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic; may also capture very fine planktonic and suspended particulate foods
Growth Form: Encrusting calcium carbonate skeleton with raised individual corallites
Water Parameters: Maintain stable reef aquarium temperature and salinity with consistent alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. Maintain measurable and reasonably stable nitrate and phosphate levels.
Special Considerations: Avoid sudden increases in lighting intensity and acclimate gradually to stronger illumination. Moderate indirect flow helps prevent detritus accumulation without irritating the tissue. Leave adequate room around the colony so it can continue spreading across surrounding rockwork.