About Branched Cup Coral
Fleshy LPS with jewel-toned polyps that inflate during the day. Forgiving in low-to-moderate light, no sweepers, and propagates readily. A good step up from mushrooms when you're ready for LPS.
Blastomussa merleti, commonly known as pineapple coral, is a species of large polyp stony coral. It is unclear in which family the genus Blastomussa belongs. This coral is native to the west and central Indo-Pacific region and is sometimes used in reef aquaria.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Large fleshy polyps emerging from a calcified base, each polyp 1–2 inches across with deep folds. Common color morphs include red, green, and the prized "Wellso" variety with red bodies and green centers.
In your tank. Slow growing but undemanding for an LPS coral. No sweeper tentacles — peaceful neighbor to most other corals. Polyps inflate dramatically during the day and retract somewhat at night, exposing the calcified skeleton.
Placement and care. Sandbed or low rockwork under moderate light. Avoid direct strong flow — the fleshy polyps need gentle current. Target feeding small pieces of mysis or coral foods 1–2 times per week visibly accelerates growth.
Sourcing and feeding. Captive-propagated specimens widely available ($30–80 for small colonies, more for Wellso or rainbow morphs). Photosynthetic with target feeding strongly recommended for color expression and growth.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related corals
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 207385).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: IRD - Benzoni, F. · CC BY 3.0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).