Australian scoly (Homophyllia australis) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Scolymia australis, Scoly, Australian scolymia, Doughnut coral, Warpaint scoly
Family
Lobophylliidae
Origin
Australia, mainly the east coast, in shallow reef and inshore habitats
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate (low to moderate is safest)
Flow
Medium

Care

Homophyllia australis is the Australian scoly: a solitary large-polyp stony (LPS) coral forming a single round, fleshy disc or dome, usually with one central mouth. It is prized for its colours, with well-known names such as Warpaint, Bleeding Sour Apple and Neon Green. Most pieces are wild-collected in Australia. It can swell to about twice its daytime size. Naming: it was long sold as Scolymia australis and is still widely called a scoly; the accepted name is now Homophyllia australis. Placement: low in the tank, on the sand or a low rock, in moderate light and medium flow. Strong light can bleach it. Water: alkalinity dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4, with calcium, strontium, magnesium and trace elements kept up. Growth is slow. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/australian-scolymia-coral-neon-green). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but it feeds readily: feeding tentacles appear in the evening, and it takes meaty foods such as mysis, brine shrimp or chopped seafood once or twice a week.

Breeding

Not normally fragged, as it is a single polyp. Very occasionally an older specimen divides or buds a second mouth, but propagation in captivity is rare.

Compatibility and tank mates

Semi-aggressive. It has no long sweepers but it inflates to about double its size, so give it plenty of room (10 cm or more) from other corals. Some angelfish and butterflyfish nip scolys. Shrimps and crabs may steal food from it.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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