Favites moon coral (Favites abdita) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Favites, Moon coral, Honeycomb coral, Pineapple coral, Closed brain coral
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
with_caution
Lighting
Moderate
Flow
Moderate

Care

Favites abdita is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral that forms domes or encrusting mounds. Its corallites share walls, giving a honeycomb pattern, and the polyps open in the evening. Colours include green, brown, red and bicoloured forms, often with bright green centres. Place it anywhere from low to mid rockwork in moderate light and medium flow. LiveAquaria lists Favites as easy in care, with moderate light, medium flow and placement anywhere in the tank. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4, specific gravity 1.023–1.025 and 22–26 °C, with calcium, strontium and trace elements. Growth is slow to moderate. Naming: Favites used to be in the family Faviidae and now belongs to Merulinidae. It is easily confused with Dipsastraea (formerly Favia), which has separate rather than shared corallite walls. 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/favites-brain-coral-2-75-wysiwyg-1). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but it feeds eagerly. LiveAquaria suggests microplankton or brine shrimp twice a week in the evening, when the tentacles are out.

Breeding

Cut through the skeleton with a saw or bone cutters and glue the pieces to plugs or rock with cyanoacrylate gel. Frags heal well in low flow.

Compatibility and tank mates

Aggressive. At night it extends sweeper tentacles well beyond its edge, so give it at least 15 cm of space from other corals. Some angelfish and butterflyfish nip it.

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

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