Tubastraea

*Tubastraea*
Taxonomical systematics
	Genus	Tubastraea
	Common names	Sun coral,
	Family	Dendrophyllidae
	Order	Scleractinia
	Subclass	Zoantharia
	Class	Anthozoa
	Phylum	Cnidaria

Biological characteristics
	Description	Polyps usually closed during the day and extended at night.
		Azoothanthellate
		Ahermatypic
	Wild foods	Zooplankton. Voracious zooplankton feeders (Veron, 1986).

	Tubastraea micrantha at "Pavona Clavus", Ribbon Reef #5, Great Barrier Reef with polyps closed.


	Tubastraea sp. (probably T. faulkneri at "Lighthouse Bommie", Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef, with polyps closed.


	Tubastraea sp. at "Steve's Bommie", Ribbon Reef #3, Great Barrier Reef with polyps extended at night.

Skeletal structure
	Corallites	Tubular.

Captive care
	Lighting	As they have no symbiotic algae, lighting is not important.
	Water flow	Medium to strong.
	Feeding	Must be fed regularly on zooplankton substitutes.

References
	Veron J.E.N. 1986. Corals Of Australia And The Indo-Pacific . University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 644pp.