Coral database category
Non-photosynthetic coral profiles
These non-photosynthetic corals require identification and husbandry checks that go beyond appearance, especially feeding response and long-term care demands.
- Profiles
- 6
- beginner
- 0
- intermediate
- 0
- advanced
- 6
Browse profiles
All nps corals
Every profile below is linked directly from this category page. Featured references appear first, followed by the complete alphabetical collection.
Black Sun Coral
Tubastraea micranthus
Identify Black Sun Coral by dark branching skeleton and non-photosynthetic polyps; then set low placement, moderate flow, and enough separation from Sun Coral and Dendrophyllia Coral.
Open profile →Carnation Coral
Dendronephthya spp.
Carnation Coral NPS coral guide for identifying bright branching soft coral, choosing low placement with moderate flow, and managing weak feeding response and tissue shrinkage when kept near Chili Coral and NPS Gorgonian.
Open profile →Chili Coral
Nephthyigorgia spp.
Chili Coral NPS coral guide focused on red soft body, lookalike separation from Carnation Coral and NPS Gorgonian, and early checks for collapse from poor feeding access before changing light or flow.
Open profile →Dendrophyllia Coral
Dendrophyllia spp.
Dendrophyllia Coral care and ID profile for large non-photosynthetic polyps, branching cup skeleton, missed feeding windows, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →NPS Gorgonian
Acalycigorgia spp. / Swiftia spp.
Use this NPS Gorgonian profile to compare bright branching fan with Photosynthetic Gorgonian and Corky Sea Finger, plan conservative spacing, and watch for branch tissue loss from feeding deficit under moderate flow.
Open profile →Sun Coral
Tubastraea spp.
Identify Sun Coral by bright orange or yellow cup corallites and large feeding tentacles; then set low placement, moderate flow, and enough separation from Duncan Coral and Candy Cane Coral.
Open profile →