Symphyllia Wilsoni

Still sold in the hobby as "Symphyllia wilsoni," this coral was moved in a 2016 revision to a new genus named after it, Australophyllia. The colony is shaped like a flat dome; its short, irregular valleys are covered with thick, fleshy tissue. The colors are mottled green, gray, purple and brown tones; the valley floors and walls are often sharply different colors. In the wild it lives on rocky coasts in temperate waters. Its trade is subject to CITES Appendix II; it comes from regulated collection in Australia, so look for a frag or a maricultured individual if possible.

• Light: Low to moderate, about 50–150 PAR.
• Flow: Low to moderate and indirect.
• Placement: The lower zone of the rockwork or a rock on the sand.
• Water parameters: Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–10 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1350 mg/L. Because it comes from temperate waters, keep the temperature below 26°C.

It is photosynthetic. Feeding mysis or fine-grained LPS food once or twice a week, when the feeding tentacles open at night, keeps the tissue full.

It can digest a coral it touches with its mesenterial filaments; leave 10 cm between it and its neighbors. Do not place it within reach of aggressive LPS. Dwarf angelfish and hermit crabs may pick at the fleshy tissue.