Care
The Torch Coral, also known as the Cornet or Pom-Pom Coral, is a long-polyped stony coral known from the reef slopes of fairly deep waters (to a depth of 35m/115ft). They are often found clustered together in large colonies, all growing together on the same reef. This species has a phacelia branching skeleton with tentacles that have a single spherical tip, and compact corallites (2-3cm across and typically 1.5- 3 cm apart), with inward projecting septa that do not extend above the corallite wall. The long tentacles may be brown, grey, blue, or green, with cream, white, pink, or green tips, and these tentacles are extended during the day and retracted at night. When the coral is fully expanded, little can be seen of the corallite walls, and it could almost be mistaken for an anemone. In the aquarium, Torch Corals are excellent water quality monitors - though they are considered relatively hardy, failure to show good polyp expansion can indicate less-than-perfect water conditions. Be aware that colonies can spread to more than 50cm, so a spacious aquarium is required. In the wild, these corals prefer somewhat turbid conditions and will thrive in the aquarium with bright but indirect light and a gentle to moderate current. 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 its polyps or to cause tissue damage from being pushed against its own sharp skeleton. As Torch Coralsproduce long sweeper tentacles tipped with potent nematocysts, careful positioning is vital so that they do not damage neighbouring corals; very fewsessile invertebrates survive repeated aggressive attacks by members of the Euphyllia genus, and these sweepers can extend out some 25cm (9.8"). It is worth noting that these corals will be more inclined to form multiple sweeper tentacles if the current is especially strong, sosuch unfavourable conditions are to be avoided. Although several different Euphyllia species can be kept close together without problems, this aggressive species is not one of them, so do not site them anywhere near other Euphyllids. It is not uncommon for large TorchCoral specimens to become substitute homes for clownfish if there is a nosuitable anemone present for them to live in. When a clownfish first decides to take up residence, the coral may not extend its tentacles as fully as usual, but they generally become accustomed to the presence of such fish within in matter of days and reverts to their normal behaviour. Small commensal shrimps such as Periclimenes sp. and Thor sp. may often come in on these corals and are harmless. Unfortunately, Torch Corals are a little prone to"brown jelly" infections (an attack on injured flesh by various microorganisms), possibly as a result of hermit crabs lumbering over them in their ongoing search for food items. For this reason, we do not recommend that hermit crabs are housed in the same aquarium. Whenever you have to handle TorchCoral, do so only by the skeleton, as stings from contact with the tentacles can be particularly painful. Even then, handle with much care, as although the skeleton may look reasonably sturdy, it is actually quite thin and easily damaged.
Feeding
This species is zooxanthellate,but it is a voracious feeder that will benefit from feeding with small meaty food items such as Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, chopped clam etc. several times per week. When supplementing your diet with these meaty items, do keep a close eye on water quality.
Propagation
Euphyllia glabrescens has separate male and female colonies and can release eggs and sperm for external fertilisation in the water column. Under favourable conditions in the aquarium, this species is more likely to reproduce by budding, with small polyps emerging from the base of the colony.
