LPS Coral
Meat (Button) Coral.
A single large, fleshy polyp that balloons out over its skeleton in jaw-dropping reds and oranges — a true reef gem. A meaty LPS (large-polyp stony) that sits on the sand bed under low-to-moderate light and gentle flow, and loves a target feeding. A showpiece for the display.
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
- Adult size
- 8"
- Min tank size
- 30 gallons
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Scientific name
- Acanthophyllia deshayesiana
Good tank mates
Acanthophyllia (meat coral) is a free-living large-polyp stony coral that inflates a big fleshy single polyp, and it can extend stinging sweeper tentacles at night, so give it open space on the sand bed away from other corals. It coexists with peaceful reef fish, snails, and shrimp, but keep it from touching neighboring colonies and watch that tankmates don't pick at its soft tissue. A calm, low-traffic spot suits it best.
Good to know
A meat coral is a single enormous polyp rather than a colony, and its hidden skeleton underneath is a prized collector item known as a 'meteor' coral.
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.
Firefish Goby
An extremely peaceful dartfish that hovers near the substrate and shows no interest in coral tissue, making it ideal for LPS-heavy reef tanks.
Royal Gramma
Completely reef-safe with all corals; this peaceful basslet claims cave-like territories and will never nip at or disturb the coral's fleshy polyp tissue.
Green Chromis
A peaceful schooling damselfish that occupies the upper water column and shows no interest in LPS or SPS (small-polyp stony) corals, documented as fully reef-safe.
Yellow Watchman Goby
A peaceful, reef-safe goby that spends its time along the sandbed and completely ignores coral tissue; safe in the same bottom-zone as this substrate-placed coral.
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
A universally reef-safe invertebrate that does not nip coral tissue when well-fed; its cleaning behavior also benefits fish tankmates sharing the same system.
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.