LPS Coral
Gold Symphyllia.
A large brain coral with maze-like ridges and a warm gold tone — a bold, fleshy centerpiece for the reef floor. An LPS (large-polyp stony) that likes low-to-moderate light and gentle flow on the sand bed; the occasional feeding keeps its color rich.
We keep this species at our Erie store. Come and see it in the tanks, or call (814) 456-9445 and ask what we have in right now.
Sea Cave keeps this species. You will find these in the tanks at 660 East 14th Street in Erie. We never ship live animals.
- Condition
- new
- Fulfillment
- Local pickup — Erie, PA
We never ship fish, coral, or invertebrates — every animal here is one you meet in person. Each one is acclimated and health-checked in-house before it goes out into the display tanks. This is a species we keep, and what is swimming on any given day changes with the deliveries, so please call (814) 456-9445 before you drive in.
Care at a glance
What to know before you take one home.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Semi aggressive
- Min tank size
- 30 gallons
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Scientific name
- Symphyllia spp.
Good tank mates
A large-polyp stony coral that is fine around peaceful reef fish and invertebrates, but it can extend short sweeper tentacles and digest neighbors, so leave open space between it and other corals. Reef-safe fish that won't nip coral are ideal tankmates; avoid known coral-nipping fish and aggressive corals placed too close. Keep it away from light-and-flow-loving SPS (small-polyp stony) so neither overgrows the other.
Good to know
Symphyllia are brain-type corals whose fleshy, maze-like ridges can show striking color contrast, and a healthy colony can repair and regrow over damaged skeleton.
What is in the tanks and each animal's temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for pairing advice.
Good tankmates
Plays well with.
Species we’d keep in the same tank, with why each pairing works. What is in the tanks and each animal’s temperament vary — call (814) 456-9445 for advice on pairing.
New to stocking a tank? Read our guide on which fish live together.
Pajama Cardinalfish
Confirmed reef-safe with no known coral nipping or hosting behavior. Hovers mid-water and does not interact with the sandbed where Symphyllia rests. Multiple authoritative sources verify it leaves fleshy LPS polyps entirely alone. Adults are large enough that they will not be threatened by Symphyllia's sweeper tentacles during typical nighttime extension.
Firefish Goby
Universally classified as reef-safe with explicit confirmation that it is safe with LPS coral. Docile and hovering; it does not disturb sandbed-placed corals and will not probe Symphyllia tissue. Prefers low-flow pockets near rockwork, which aligns well with the reduced flow Symphyllia requires. Keep only this one Nemateleotris species in the tank — do not house alongside N. decora (Purple Firefish), which is also on this proposed list; intraspecific and closely related species aggression is documented and one must be chosen.
Royal Gramma
Consistently rated 100% reef-safe across multiple authoritative sources with zero documented coral nipping. Stays close to vertical rockwork rather than the sandbed, so there is no physical contact risk with Symphyllia's fleshy tissue. Peaceful toward dissimilar species; only exhibits territorial aggression toward conspecifics. Water parameter requirements (SG 1.020-1.025, 72-82°F) align with Symphyllia husbandry.
Visit the store
660 East 14th Street,
Erie, PA.
Mon–Fri 12–6 · Sat 11–4 · Sun closed. Call ahead on livestock — what's on the floor rotates.