
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Favites flexuosa
A merulinid reef coral with the shared-wall, honeycomb skeleton typical of Favites. Its corallites are irregular in outline and in places run together into short meanders. It ranges from the Red Sea to the central Pacific.
Favites flexuosa is a reef-building merulinid coral, called the larger star coral in English. The distribution records held by WoRMS run from the Red Sea, Somalia, Mozambique, South Africa, Reunion, the Seychelles, Chagos and the Maldives to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Fiji, the Marshall Islands and American Samoa, covering the Indian Ocean and much of the central Pacific. The skeleton has the shared-wall honeycomb structure of the genus, but the corallite outlines are irregular and in places run together into short meanders. Colonies are usually brown or green. Like others in the genus it is stable under moderate light and moderate flow, but it is aggressive and its night-time sweeper tentacles damage neighbouring corals. As a scleractinian it is on CITES Appendix II.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The ideal temperature for the Favites Flexuosa is 24〜27℃.
Origin
Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian Ocean to the western and central Pacific, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Marshall Islands and American Samoa
Size
Colonies to several tens of cm
Temperature
24〜27℃
Mainly nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented with meaty coral foods offered at night.
Sources: LiveAquaria / AlgaeBarn: Calcium Supplementation / WoRMS (World Register of Marine Species)
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Favites flexuosa (Dana, 1846)
Synonyms: Astraea (Fissicella) flexuosa Dana, 1846, Favites ellisiana Verrill, 1901
Authority databases: WoRMS
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Sources: CITES Appendix II (Scleractinia spp. listed as an order)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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LiveAquaria gives moderate lighting for Favites. Reduce the light at first and raise it to the target position over several weeks.
Medium flow. It can sit anywhere from the sand bed to mid-height, but keep other corals out of reach of its sweeper tentacles.
Water 24-26C, specific gravity 1.023-1.025, salinity 33-35 ppt, KH 8-12. It consumes calcium and magnesium, so test and replenish them regularly.
Most of its nutrition comes from its zooxanthellae. It extends its polyps at night, so meaty coral food after lights-out speeds its growth.
The corallite outlines are irregular and telling it from its congeners needs a close look at the skeleton; shops often label it with the genus alone. As a scleractinian it is on CITES Appendix II and international trade requires permits.
Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.
The ideal temperature for Favites Flexuosa is 24〜27℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
Favites Flexuosa feeds on: Mainly nutrition from symbiotic zooxanthellae, supplemented with meaty coral foods offered at night.. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Favites Flexuosa varies significantly depending on variety, size, and individual quality. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 16, 2026