Green Star Polyp Coral Frag - Soft Corals - Pachyclavularia

Scientific Name: Pachyclavularia violacea

Common Name: Green Star Polyps (GSP)

Category: Soft Coral - Pachyclavularia

Description: This coral grows via a flat mat of rubbery purple fibrous tissue that covers nearby surfaces. Neon green polyp tentacles surround a white center and oral opening. When space is limited, it grows over itself through layering mats and loose folds.

When fully extended, it often resembles waving grass fields. When retracted, which often happens when physically disturbed, significant lighting changes, and fluctuating water parameters, the vibrant purple mat is visible resembling Coralline algae with raised "stolons."

These corals are incredibly hardy, easy to care for, tolerant of most lighting and water flow conditions, and grows faster than almost every other coral. They can grow over live rock, gravel, and even the aquarium glass.

Its important to remove any detritus buildup that can happen between the polyps if water flow is mild to moderate; less critical when under high flow.

While they don't contain stinging nematocysts, the compete with neighboring corals by overgrowing and starving them of light, water flow, and food.

In the absence of available anemones, clownfish often symbiotically host within their extended waving tentacles.

Use caution when housed with sponges, as they are particularly sensitive to their secretions. They can also be sensitive to high iodine levels, aluminum oxide, and some phosphate removing sponges. 

Note: when stressed during shipment, the polyps will likely fully recede, making the frag look like a pimpled strip of purple rubber on one side, and smooth purple on the other. To secure it to a new location, simply superglue (gel cyanoacrylate) it to a new surface or loosely rubber band it to a rock, smooth purple side down. It will secure itself gradually over a week or so once its comfortable.

Approx. Size: 1 square inch on a frag plug

Care and Recommendations:  

• Lighting: Medium (100 PAR) recommended, but tolerant of Medium-low to High.
• Flow: Moderate Variable Flow
• Care: Extremely Easy

Note: There is a box fee of $9.99 for all livestock orders applied at checkout. This includes the insulated shipping box, heat/cold pack (if required), plastic specimen bag, and other materials to ship your frag safely. There is only one box fee per order. So, if your order is large and requires multiple boxes, you will still only be charged $9.99.