Honeycomb coral (Goniastrea retiformis) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Goniastrea, Lesser star coral
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, on shallow reef flats and slopes
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate
Flow
Moderate

Care

Goniastrea retiformis is a stony brain-type coral with small, many-sided corallites packed together like a honeycomb. Colonies are dome-shaped or encrusting, in browns, creams and greens, often with bright green or contrasting centres. Placement: any level on the rockwork. Light and flow: moderate light and moderate flow. Water and supplements: stable calcium, alkalinity and magnesium, with strontium, iodine and trace elements. Naming: LiveAquaria lists it in Faviidae, its older family; it is now placed in Merulinidae. LiveAquaria lists the genus ("Goniastrea sp."), not this species, so its figures are guidance for the genus. 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/goniastrea-coral-green-with-neon-green-centers). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic. Supplementary feeding about twice a week in the evening with chopped meaty foods, micro-plankton or baby brine or mysis shrimp, while the tentacles are out, helps growth.

Breeding

Cut a section of colony with a saw or bone cutters and glue it to a plug. Aquacultured frags are available.

Compatibility and tank mates

Semi-aggressive: night-time sweeper tentacles reach well beyond the colony edge and sting neighbours, so leave generous space.

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

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