Caulastrea curvata – Candycane Coral

Caulastrea curvata, known as Trumpet Coral in the aquarium hobby, is a hardy and easy-to-care-for LPS coral. It forms a branching calcareous skeleton with round polyps developing at the tips. The polyps swell during the day, giving the coral its distinctive, clearly recognizable appearance.

The genus Caulastrea includes several similar species found in reef aquariums. Common examples include Caulastrea furcata, Caulastrea curvata, and Caulastrea echinulata. These species resemble each other in appearance and are often sold under the same name in aquarium stores.

Caulastrea corals come in various color morphs. The most common colors are green, turquoise, and brown, often with a contrasting center. In some individuals, the colors can be particularly vibrant and fluoresce strongly under blue aquarium lighting. In the aquarium hobby, spectacular Ultra color morphs are also known, where the polyp colors are more intense than usual.

In a reef aquarium, Caulastrea generally thrives in the lower or middle sections of the tank, where lighting is low to moderate and flow is gentle to moderate. In good conditions, the coral grows new polyps by budding, and the colony size can increase quite rapidly.

Characteristics

branching LPS coral with round polyps

distinctive trumpet-shaped polyp structures

often bright green or turquoise coloration

easy to care for and hardy species

grows new polyps by budding

Care Requirements

Feature Recommendation

Difficulty easy

Lighting low – medium

Flow low – moderate

Placement in aquarium bottom – middle

Growth rate moderate

Good to know

Caulastrea often responds well to targeted feeding with, for example, mysis shrimp or other small meaty foods. Feeding can accelerate the formation of new polyps and coral growth.

Suitability

well-suited for reef aquariums

generally compatible with fish and invertebrates

an excellent choice for beginners too