LPS Coral Database          ReefKeeping 101

LPS (Large Polyp Stony) corals are generally larger calcareous corals with large fleshy polyps.  Almost all LPS corals are wild caught as they are the most difficult corals to propagate in captivity.   They range in ease of keep from being some of the easiest to some of the most difficult of corals to keep.

Many LPS corals have strong stinging capability similar to an anemone and care must be used in their placement so that they cannot reach their neighbors.  To complicate matters a little more, some LPS corals also have long tentacles called sweeper tentacles which are longer than the normal tentacles and are used to 'clear' other corals away from their immediate vicinity.

Guidelines to buying LPS corals:

• Check where the polyp tissue meets the skeleton.  The tissue should not show recession (pulling away) from the skeleton which typically shows up as a bright white area where the skeleton is newly exposed or a green algae covered area where the algae has taken advantage of the newly exposed real estate.  A small amount of recession may not be cause to pass up the specimen if it looks healthy otherwise.
• Check the expansion of the polyps.  LPS coral tend to fully extend their polyps when they are happy and healthy.  If the polyps are withdrawn into the skeleton or abnormally flaccid, this may indicate a problem.  Of course newly introduced specimens may take some time to expand, so if the specimen is very new to the LPS, it may not be expanded for that reason.
• Look for a jelly like substance on the coral.  LPS are subject to an infection called 'brown jelly'.  This is often a fatal condition and may spread to other corals.  These corals should not be purchased, even to try to save it, as it may spread to other corals.
• Some LPS corals can grow fairly large and at a fairly quick rate.  An example is the hammer coral.

See acclimation procedure for further information on introducing LPS corals to the tank.