Australian Fat Head Dendrophyllia
A variant of Sun coral (Tubastraea sp.)
Representative Sun coralphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
A heavy, large-headed sun coral with oversized bright yellow-to-orange polyps and an orange base — frags are sold as single large heads rather than branches. Long traded under the 'Dendrophyllia' name, it was formally described in 2021 as *Tubastraea megacorallita*, placing it within the true sun coral genus.
📜 Backstory
An aquacultured strain that Tidal Gardens states has been 'fully aquacultured for many years by our expert staff,' sold as the 'Australian Fat Head Dendrophyllia' and also stocked by Queen City Corals. Despite its long-used trade name, Reef Builders reported in 2021 that the 'Fat Head Dendro' received an official description as *Tubastraea megacorallita*, named for its very large polyps and corallites — so it is genuinely a sun coral, not a true *Dendrophyllia*. Captive-propagated frags are single fat heads.
Keeper tips for this variant
Place low in a shaded spot with moderate flow; because the polyps are huge, feed sizeable meaty chunks (silversides, chopped krill, mysis) directly to each head frequently — it is a heavy feeder and is usually shipped live-arrival-only for this reason.