Devils Finger Coral Colony

Devil’s Finger Coral is a hardy soft leather coral known for its thick finger-like branches and textured appearance. It’s a great choice for both newer and experienced reef keepers, adding plenty of shape and movement to a mixed reef aquarium.

LIGHTING

Moderate lighting is generally ideal. Devil’s Finger Corals can adapt to a range of lighting conditions, but new specimens are best acclimated gradually rather than being placed immediately under intense reef lighting.

FLOW

Moderate, indirect water flow works best. Good flow helps keep the coral clean and encourages normal polyp extension. Avoid positioning it directly in front of a powerful wavemaker where the coral is constantly being blasted.

FEEDING

Devil’s Finger Corals receive most of their energy from light through their symbiotic algae, so direct feeding is generally not required.
They may benefit from nutrients and very fine suspended foods already present in a well-maintained reef aquarium.

PLACEMENT

Place Devil’s Finger Coral in the lower to middle areas of the rockwork, adjusting its position depending on your lighting.
Make sure it is securely attached and give it plenty of room to grow, as established colonies can become quite large and spread outward.

WATER QUALITY

Devil’s Finger Corals are relatively hardy, but stable conditions will produce the best growth and polyp extension. Like most leather corals, consistency is more important than constantly chasing exact numbers.

TANK MATES

Devil’s Finger Corals work well in mixed reef aquariums, but give them some space from neighbouring corals. Leather corals can compete chemically with other corals, particularly in heavily stocked systems.
Good water movement, regular water changes, and activated carbon can be useful when keeping multiple leather corals alongside LPS and SPS corals.

SHEDDING

Don’t be alarmed if your Devil’s Finger occasionally closes its polyps and develops a shiny or waxy-looking surface. Leather corals periodically shed their outer surface before reopening.
Good water flow helps remove this layer, and the coral will normally extend its polyps again once the process is complete.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, Devil’s Finger Coral is a hardy, attractive, and relatively easy-care soft coral that works well in a wide variety of reef aquariums. With moderate lighting, good water movement, stable parameters, and enough room to grow, it can develop into an impressive feature colony.