What it looks like. Long, daisy-like polyps with 24 tentacles arranged around a central mouth, fully extending into the water column. Color morphs range from green and pink to vivid red ("strawberry") and rainbow varieties.

In your tank. Historically infamous as a slow-killer — wild specimens routinely died after 6–18 months despite apparent acceptance. Modern aquacultured specimens fare dramatically better when sourced from reputable suppliers.

Placement and care. Moderate light (100–200 PAR), low-to-moderate flow. Sandbed placement preferred. Avoid drift through powerheads — flesh damage from contact is often fatal. Target feeding is strongly recommended — small particulate foods, phytoplankton, and amino acid supplements all visibly contribute to long-term success.

Sourcing and feeding. Buy aquacultured only — verify with the supplier. Wild-collected Goniopora still appears in the trade and is still associated with the historical decline pattern. Photosynthetic with mandatory supplemental feeding.