Orange cup coral (Balanophyllia elegans) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Cup coral, Balanophyllia
Family
Dendrophylliidae
Origin
North-eastern Pacific coast of North America, from British Columbia to Baja California; cold rocky shores and shallow subtidal
Water
saltwater
Care level
expert
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Not photosynthetic; light only for viewing
Flow
Moderate

Care

Balanophyllia elegans is a small, solitary stony cup coral from the cold Pacific coast of North America. Each cup is about 1 cm across, with bright orange tentacles. It is a cold-water species and needs a chilled coldwater marine tank, not a tropical reef. It has no zooxanthellae, so light is only for viewing. Place it on shaded rock with moderate flow. It is rarely available in the trade. Neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species; the figures are general guidance for the genus, not from a source. 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: general reef-keeping guidance; neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics lists this species. Checked October 2026.

Diet

Not photosynthetic: it needs daily feeding of small meaty foods such as rotifers, copepods, mysis and brine shrimp.

Breeding

It reproduces by brooding larvae, which settle nearby. It is not deliberately propagated in the hobby.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful. Keep it away from corals and anemones that could sting it.

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

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