Pink Flamingo Stylophora

Pink Flamingo Stylophora: The Highly Saturated Hot Pink Brancher

The Pink Flamingo Stylophora (Stylophora species) is an incredibly vibrant and highly sought-after collector strain of Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral. Stylophora, often called "Cat's Paw Coral" or "Cluster Coral," is known for being one of the hardiest and fastest-growing SPS genera, often recommended as a great step after Montipora.

This specific strain is named "Pink Flamingo" for its unmistakable, uniform hot pink, fuchsia, or magenta base tissue. The entire colony glows with intense, saturated color. The coral is covered in numerous, small polyps that are typically the same glowing pink color, giving the branches a robust, dense appearance that fluoresces brilliantly under blue-spectrum lighting.

The Pink Flamingo Stylophora grows in a dense, bushy, and blunt-branched morphology, quickly forming robust, rounded colonies. It is considered an Easy to Moderate care SPS coral. It is highly resilient but requires consistent water chemistry, high light, and ample water flow to maintain its rapid growth and brilliant pink saturation.

Diet & Compatibility:

• Diet: This coral is primarily Photosynthetic (deriving most energy from symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae) but is also an opportunistic Carnivore.
• Feeding: Supplemental feeding is highly beneficial for accelerating growth and enhancing color saturation. Its small polyps readily capture fine particulate foods. Target feed 2-3 times per week with very fine foods, such as cyclops, rotifers, or commercial coral powders and amino acid solutions.
• Reef Compatibility: It is Reef Safe and generally Passive. Stylophora lacks powerful sweeper tentacles, but due to its fast and dense branching growth, it can easily shade out and physically irritate adjacent corals. Ensure it has ample space (3-4 inches) from sensitive neighbors.
• Temperament: Peaceful toward fish and motile invertebrates, and Passive toward other corals. It should be positioned on high rockwork where it receives High PAR lighting (300-450 PAR), which is crucial for maximizing the pink pigment, and strong, chaotic, turbulent water flow to prevent detritus buildup within the dense branches.
• Water Requirements: Requires stable parameters. The tank should be mature with very low nutrient levels (Nitrate < 5 ppm, Phosphate < 0.1 ppm). Consistency in alkalinity is paramount. Critical parameters: Alkalinity (dKH 8.0-9.5), Calcium (400-450 ppm), and Magnesium (1300-1450 ppm).

Quick Facts

• Scientific Name: Stylophora sp. (Specific Strain)
• Primary Common Name: Pink Flamingo Stylophora
• Other Common Names: Hot Pink Stylophora, Pink Cat's Paw Coral
• Origin: Cultured/Maricultured (Originals from the Indo-Pacific)
• Max Size: Forms large, dense, bushy colonies (8+ inches tall/wide)
• Temperament: Peaceful (Fast-growing and requires physical space)
• Diet: Photosynthetic and Carnivore (Benefits from target feeding)
• Minimum Tank Size: 40 Gallons (Established SPS or Mixed Reef)
• Reef Compatibility: Yes (Excellent, hardy branching SPS option)
• Care Level: Easy to Moderate