Thick birdsnest coral (Seriatopora caliendrum) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Thick-branch birdsnest, Birdsnest coral
Family
Pocilloporidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, from East Africa to the central Pacific
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
High (LiveAquaria)
Flow
Moderate to strong

Care

Seriatopora caliendrum is the thick-branched birdsnest coral: a bushy colony of tapering, fairly stout branches that fuse into a nest-like tangle. In the hobby it is usually pink, cream, green or purple. LiveAquaria sells its thick-branch birdsnest under the name Seriatopora stellata, so the figures here come from that close relative. It rates it moderate, with high light, medium to strong flow and placement in the middle to upper rockwork. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4 and 22–26 °C, with calcium kept at 400–450 ppm using a two-part calcium and buffer supplement, plus strontium, iodine, magnesium and trace elements. Growth is fast under good conditions; the branches are brittle, so give it room. 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/liveaquaria®-ccgc-aquacultured-pink-thick-branch-birdsnest-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly photosynthetic. LiveAquaria says added zooplankton is beneficial.

Breeding

One of the easiest SPS corals to propagate: snap or cut off a branch and glue it to a plug. LiveAquaria's frags come on ceramic plugs fixed to rock with gel superglue or epoxy. Branches that break off accidentally will often re-attach where they land.

Compatibility and tank mates

LiveAquaria lists it as semi-aggressive. It grows quickly and can sting or shade slower corals that touch it, and it is easily stung by LPS corals and leathers, so leave 10–15 cm around it. Trapezia crabs often live in Pocilloporidae and are harmless.

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

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