Clavularia viridis is a kind of soft coral that forms colonies. It belongs to the Clavulariidae family.
Clavularia viridis is found in the warm, shallow waters of the tropical Indo-Pacific.
What Does Clavularia viridis Look Like?
Clavularia viridis has polyps that grow from base parts called stolons. These stolons form a purple mat that sticks to the place where the coral grows.
The polyps have eight tentacles with feathery edges. These tentacles can pull back into the coral and they glow green.
Often, they have a white or yellow ring around the edge of the oral disc, which is like the Clavularia viridis coral’s mouth.
The polyps are quite big for this type of coral, sometimes reaching 2 inches in diameter.
Common Names of Clavularia viridis
People often call Clavularia viridis “Palm Tree Polyps”, “Clove Polyps”, or “Fern Polyps”. This is because the tentacles look like palm fronds.
Each tentacle has a feathery structure around it, called a pinnule. They can be tan in color and sometimes have a yellowish-green color in the middle.
Where Does Clavularia viridis Live?
Clavularia viridis is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. It can live in water as deep as 62 feet and often lives on other coral species.
How Does Clavularia viridis Eat and Grow?
The tissues of Clavularia viridis contain tiny single-cell life forms known as zooxanthellae. These life forms use light to make food through a process called photosynthesis.
The Clavularia viridis coral gets a lot of its food this way. It can also spread its tentacles to catch tiny animals floating in the water or extract organic matter from the seawater.
How Does Clavularia viridis Reproduce?
Clavularia viridis reproduces in November. During this time, all the colonies in the area release their reproductive cells into the sea.
This happens between 22 and 24 days after the full moon.
What Are Secondary Metabolites in Clavularia viridis?
Some compounds, called secondary metabolites, have been taken out from Clavularia viridis coral. Two types of these, called norcarotenoids, can stop cell growth.
These are found in the zooxanthellae that live inside the coral.
How to Care for Clavularia viridis in An Aquarium?
Clavularia viridis needs a typical live rock or reef environment in an aquarium. It also needs some fish to produce organic matter.
The Clavularia viridis coral is fast to spread and can adapt to all areas of the aquarium.
Aquarium Requirements of Clavularia viridis
- Minimum tank size: 10-gallon Nano or larger
- Lighting: Moderate to high (adapt to metal halides)
- Temperature: 72°F – 81°F
- Salinity: 1.023 – 1.025
- Water movement: Moderate to strong and turbid
How Difficult Is It to Take Care of Clavularia viridis in Aquariums?
Caring for Clavularia viridis is easy and it’s a good coral for beginners. It needs a water flow that’s moderate to strong and churns up the water. It also needs added trace elements.
Most types of lighting are okay, but the Clavularia viridis coral must be adapted to Metal Halides. This coral is good at taking out organics from the water, which can help keep the water clean.
Be careful though. Clavularia viridis coral doesn’t react well to Aluminum Oxide, which is in some types of media that remove phosphates. It can also be smothered by hair algae.
And, Clavularia viridis can irritate other corals called zoanthids. So keep them apart in the aquarium.
Clavularia viridis Characteristics
| Temperament: | Peaceful |
| Care Level: | Easy |
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Family: | Clavulariidae |
| Genus: | Clavularia |
| Scientific Name: | Clavularia viridis |
| Also Known As: | Clove Polyps, Palm Tree Polyps, Fern Polyps |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |