Indo-Pacific reefs, often in lagoons and on reef flats
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
High
Flow
Strong, intermittent
Care
Porites cylindrica is a branching small-polyp stony (SPS) coral with cylindrical, finger-like branches. When the tiny polyps are open the surface looks fuzzy. The most common forms are green, yellow or cream, with blue and purple forms also seen. Placement: middle to top of the rockwork. Light and flow: high light and strong, intermittent flow. Water and supplements: stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium, with strontium and trace elements as needed. Keep nitrate and phosphate low. Growth: steady once settled. It is sold as aquacultured frags on plugs. 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. LiveAquaria lists finger Porites as a genus ("Porites spp."), not this species, so its figures are guidance for the genus. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/yellow-porites-coral). Checked October 2026.
Diet
Photosynthetic: zooxanthellae supply most of its food. It also benefits from micro-plankton, small brine shrimp and foods for filter-feeding invertebrates.
Breeding
Easy to frag: snap or cut a branch with bone cutters and glue it to a plug. Frags heal readily.
Compatibility and tank mates
Very short tentacles, so it can usually sit near other peaceful corals, but it is stung by LPS corals and harmed by leathers. Give it its own space.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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