Orange sun coral
A variant of Sun coral (Tubastraea sp.)
Representative Sun coralphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
The classic sun coral: a dome-shaped (massive) colony of corallites cloaked in bright orange tissue with yellow-to-clear feeder polyps that bloom into a fuzzy starburst at feeding time. The most recognizable and widely sold form of *Tubastraea* (commonly labeled *T. faulkneri* / *T. coccinea*).
📜 Backstory
The bread-and-butter sun coral of the hobby, wild-collected across the Indo-Pacific and sold by virtually every vendor — listed as 'Tube Coral, Orange' at LiveAquaria, as orange/yellow Sun Coral at SaltwaterFish, and as aquacultured stock at Tidal Gardens. Most pieces are wild colonies, though some vendors maintain captive-grown lines. Species labeling (faulkneri vs. coccinea) is frequently debated in the trade; origin of the trade name is not attributable to one person or event.
Keeper tips for this variant
Place in a shaded overhang or cave with moderate flow, out of direct light — it is non-photosynthetic and needs spot-feeding (mysis, reef foods) almost nightly to thrive. Keep it well fed or polyps recede and the colony starves.