Pink/Rose Sun Coral
A variant of Sun coral (Tubastraea sp.)
Representative Sun coralphoto — a dedicated image of this exact morph isn't available yet.
A sun coral offered with pinkish-rose to salmon polyps, a softer pastel alternative to the standard fiery orange. Buyers should be aware that pink coloration in sun corals is sometimes the result of artificial dyeing rather than natural pigment.
📜 Backstory
The authenticity of 'pink' or 'rose' Tubastraea in the trade is debated. Genuinely pink wild species (such as the Galapagos Tubastraea floreana) are considered endangered and effectively never enter the aquarium hobby, and a notorious bright-pink sun coral sparked dye-versus-natural arguments in the hobby in the mid-2000s. Some lightly rose-toned individuals do appear in Indo-Pacific collections, but because dyeing is a real concern, the honest framing is that the origin of any given 'pink sun coral' is debated. As with all sun corals, husbandry needs are the same demanding feeding regimen regardless of color.
Keeper tips for this variant
House it in a shaded, low-light spot with moderate flow and feed each polyp meaty foods several times weekly. Be cautious of unusually intense or uniform pink colonies, which may be dyed and tend to fade; consistent feeding is what actually keeps the colony healthy.