Stokes' flowerpot coral (Goniopora stokesi) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Flowerpot coral, Goniopora
Family
Poritidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific; LiveAquaria says Goniopora live in nutrient-rich shallows near shore and in turbid lagoons
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate (LiveAquaria)
Flow
Moderate

Care

Goniopora stokesi is a flowerpot coral: long, flower-like polyps extend from a rounded skeleton and give it a full, bushy look. This species lives free on soft sand or rubble in the wild, often as a round ball that buds off daughter colonies. Neither LiveAquaria nor Top Shelf Aquatics has a page for this species; the figures come from LiveAquaria's Goniopora page and are general guidance for the genus. LiveAquaria rates Goniopora moderate, with moderate light, medium flow and middle to top placement. G. stokesi is best placed on the sand bed, where it naturally lives. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.0–8.4 and 22–26 °C, with magnesium, iodine, strontium, calcium and trace elements. Goniopora have a poor survival record in the hobby; mature, nutrient-rich tanks and captive-grown pieces do best. Growth is moderate once settled. 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/flower-pot-coral-long-polyp). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but LiveAquaria recommends regular supplemental feeding with micro-plankton or filter-feeder foods. Fine particle foods several times a week are widely thought to help long-term survival.

Breeding

Can be fragged by cutting the skeleton with a saw, but survival is variable. G. stokesi also produces daughter colonies that can be removed once they have their own skeleton.

Compatibility and tank mates

Aggressive (LiveAquaria): at night it extends sweeper tentacles well beyond its base, so give it 10–15 cm clear. Clownfish may host in its polyps if there is no anemone, which can stress and damage it.

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

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