Tubastraea

Taxonavigation Kingdom: Animalia Sub Kingdom: Eumetazoa Super Phylum: Radiata Phylum: Cnidaria Class: Anthozoa Sub Class: Hexacorallia Order: Scleractinia Family: Dendrophylliidae Genus: Tubastraea Species: T. coccinea - T. diaphana - T. faulkneri - T. micrantha

Introduction

All species of Tubastraea are azooxanthellate (without zooxanthellae). This means that both their energy and nutritional needs must be met from prey capture and can live with no lighting. In the aquarium, they should be fed at least once per week with food items such brine shrimp, mysid shrimp or shrimp pieces small enough to fit into their mouths.

Classification

The Tubastraea genus has four species present in Australian waters:

• T. coccinea -
• T. diaphana -
• T. faulkneri - Sun Coral
• T. micrantha - Black Sun Coral

Gallery

• 
  T. faulkneri
  Sun Coral
• 
  T. micrantha
  Black Sun Coral

Resources

• Tubastrea: the striking sunflower coral by Eric Borneman - Aquarium Net
• Report on Successful Husbandry Method for a General Azooxanthellate Reef System Including Dendronephthya by Charles Matthews - Reefkeeping Magazine
• Non-photosynthetic Corals: They really are hard! by J. Charles Delbeek - Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine