About Cactus Coral
Plating and encrusting SPS-like coral with delicate ridges. Tolerant of variable light and flow but slow-growing; works as a backdrop coral filling space behind faster centerpieces.
Pavona cactus, the cactus coral, potato chip coral or leaf coral is a species of colonial stony coral in the family Agariciidae. This coral is found in shallow waters on reefs and in lagoons in tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific region.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Plating and encrusting SPS-like coral with delicate ruffled ridges. Colors are typically subtle greens and tans, occasionally with fluorescent green polyps. Less flashy than chalices or LPS, but architecturally interesting.
In your tank. Peaceful with no sweepers. Slow grower. Works well as a backdrop coral filling space behind faster, more colorful centerpiece corals. Tolerant of variable lighting and flow.
Placement and care. Moderate light, moderate flow. Less demanding on parameter stability than Acropora. Place mid-tank or on side rockwork where it can spread laterally.
Sourcing and feeding. Captive-propagated frags available ($20–50). Less popular than colorful LPS or named SPS morphs, but a hardy and unusual choice. Photosynthetic.
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 207312).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) natomik, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).