Scolymia australis

(Milne Edwards & Haime, 1849)

Australian Scoly, Scoly (most popular), Scolymia

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Japan and the East China Sea, along with eastern, southern and southwestern Australia.

Natural Environment: Mostly a solitary/free-living highly attractive saucer-shaped photosynthetic stony coral. Yet rarely it's seen in groups of two or four centers in one corallite. Generally inhabits shallow fore-reefs to deeper areas where often found on slopes in protected clear waters. Sometimes also found in slightly shaded areas under or near overhangs in surrounding areas.

General Husbandry: These extremely colorful, large fleshy polyp corals are collected in areas having different levels of light intensity, therefore some experimentation may be needed as to placement before deciding upon a permanent location in the aquarium. Nevertheless, a fairly bright area preferably lit with metal halides, strong fluorescent lamps or LED's should initially be chosen. The placement area should be flat, and large enough to safely contain the entire width of the polyp, which expands greatly during the day. Ledges are always problematic; therefore recommend placing it on the sandbed surface where it will be impacted with a gentle to moderate water flow. Strong flows will harm the animal. Even though not an aggressive species, be sure to provide enough space between it and its neighbors, as stings, even minor stings from aggressive corals will cause it to shrink greatly, not take offered foods, and waste away.

Recommend feeding once every three days with meaty foods such as pieces of fish or shrimp flesh and/or mysis. Once it senses food entering the aquarium, a ring of feeding tentacles is often displayed (see photo of my specimen ready for dinner) and then those meaty foods should be placed on the center of the polyp where they will be engulfed within a few minutes. Also, occasionally various meaty pellet-like foods can be used, as are live foods such as enriched live adult brine shrimp.

Do not overfed, especially pellet foods, as the coral will expel the soft excesses in a burst from the central mouth area. To encourage the extension of feeding tentacles, the use of freeze-dried krill, rubbed between the fingers in the aquarium water, may encourage many corals, including this species, to put forth their feeding tentacles.

Colors include amazing combinations of fluorescent reds, orange and greens! No doubt one of the most beautiful/attention getting colorful stony corals on the market, and extremely easy to maintain!

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Mussidae

Genus: Scolymia

FYI:

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Photosynthetic/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderate

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 74 - 83°F (23 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Lighting: PAR 250 - 350+

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.