Care
Australian Scolymia Corals are known from reef environments and rocky headlands to depths of 40m (131ft). These beautifully coloured doughnut-shaped corals are usually solitary, but it is not unknown for them to be polycentric (that is developing more than one mouth in a single corallite). Highly prized by aquarists, Australian Scolmia Corals are available in many eye-catching colours, often a mixture of blue, cream, green, orange, and red. The septa (vertical blades that sit inside the corallite cup) are sturdy, with blunt saw-like teeth. These corals are generally pretty hardy and only moderately aggressive, and as they are slow-growing, they do not require any pruning. Ideally, these corals should be secured horizontally or slightly angled on a rock substrate in an area of bright, but indirect lighting. When placed on a sand substrate, there is always a risk of them becoming covered in sand by the antics of any diggers or sand-sifters in the tank, and they may also be accidentally overturned by clumsy fish if they are not affixed to a solid surface. Some aquarists like to cement them to a small piece of rock, 3" or so wide, and then place that directly onto the sand, so that the coral is slightly raised from the floor. Be sure to leave plenty of space around your Australian Scolymia Corals to avoid them being stung by more aggressive invertebrates. The current should be sufficient enough to keep any detritus from settling on top of the coral, but not so vigorous as to prevent it from expanding fully or to cause it tissue damage from being pushed against its own sharp skeleton. To maintain good health, it is important to regularly target feed Australian Scolymia Corals with small meaty foods, preferably at lights out, when the coral will be fully expanded. Although these corals derive a lot of their nutrition through photosynthesis performed by zooxanthellae, supplemental feeding is crucial for long-term health. Squirting a small amount of food near this nocturnal species should prompt it into opening its mouth and tentacles for more food, the coral taking on a quite different (and "hungry") appearance when all feeding tentacles are extended. May also be seen on sale under a whole host of other common names, including Australian Scoly, Doughnut Coral, Scolymia Button Coral, Artichoke Coral, Flat Brain Coral, and Meat Coral. Some particularly bright colour forms are also given elaborate names such as 'Bleeding Apple' or 'War Paint'. Like many of the other mussid corals, there is a fair amount of taxonomical disagreement/confusion surrounding the genus Scolymia, as some specimens are virtually indistinguishable from some members of the genus Lobophyllia, so they may well undergo a change in nomenclature in the future.
Feeding
This species is partly zooxanthellate, but its diet must be supplemented by feeding with small meaty food items such as Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, finely chopped shrimp/clam etc. several times per week. When supplementing its diet with these meaty items, do keep a close eye on water quality. Use a turkey baster to target feed and ensure the coral is receiving enough food. For best results, feed in the evening or after lights out when the coral will be at its most receptive.
Propagation
This species can be propagated, but many find this a little intimidating due to the fact that these corals still regularly command a high price tag and can be a little prone to infection. Healthy corals can be cut into halves or quarters using a wet diamond-blade band saw, and then the pieces flushed well before returning them to the aquarium. New growth is generally very, very slow and the coral may not form a perfectly round shape.
