Lemon Lime Clove Polyps Coral

Lemon Lime Clove Polyps, Clavularia sp., are colonial octocorals recognized by their delicate flower-like polyps with eight feathered tentacles. This WYSIWYG specimen displays vivid fluorescent yellow to lemon-colored highlights running along the tentacles, contrasted by green tissue through the polyp bases and inner tentacle structure. The feathery side branches, or pinnules, along each tentacle give the colony its characteristic clove-like appearance and create attractive movement in gentle reef aquarium flow. Clavularia polyps grow from a spreading mat or stolon network over hard substrate and can gradually form larger colonies under favorable conditions. They contain symbiotic zooxanthellae that provide much of their nutritional needs through photosynthesis while also capturing very fine suspended organic material. Because species-level identification within Clavularia cannot reliably be confirmed from external appearance alone, Clavularia sp. is the scientifically appropriate designation.

Care Guide: Clavularia sp. is generally hardy and suitable for beginner to intermediate reef aquariums. Provide low to moderate lighting and moderate, indirect water movement that keeps the polyps gently swaying without continuously blasting the colony. Place on stable rockwork with room for the connecting mat to spread; an isolated rock can be useful if you want to limit future expansion. Maintain stable temperature, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate. Most nutritional requirements are supplied through photosynthesis, although the colony can also utilize dissolved nutrients and very fine suspended foods. Keep detritus and nuisance algae from accumulating around the colony's growing mat.