Yellow Elegance Coral

The Yellow Elegance Coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei) is one of the most striking and elegant large polyp stony (LPS) corals you can keep in a reef tank. It’s known for its vibrant coloration and flowing tentacles—but also for being a bit challenging to care for compared to other LPS species.

Here’s everything you need to know about its description and care:

Description:

• Scientific Name: Catalaphyllia jardinei

• Common Name: Yellow Elegance Coral (also just "Elegance Coral")

• Appearance:

  • Large, fleshy polyp with long, wavy tentacles that extend from a flat, often C- or U-shaped skeletal base.

  • The yellow morph is especially eye-catching, often featuring a bright yellow or golden base with green or purple-tipped tentacles and sometimes a fluorescent mouth.

  • Tentacles have a gentle, flowing motion, giving it a graceful, anemone-like appearance.

  • Can grow quite large—up to 12 inches (30 cm) across or more.

Care Level: Moderate to Difficult

Elegance corals, especially the yellow or Indo-Pacific variants, have a reputation for being more delicate than other LPS corals.

Do:

• Place on soft sand with plenty of room for tentacle extension.

• Feed regularly – It appreciates meaty foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and small pieces of seafood.

• Keep stable water parameters – They are sensitive to swings, especially in alkalinity and salinity.

• Provide space – Their sweeper tentacles can sting other corals, and they don’t like being touched by neighbors.

Avoid:

• High flow areas – Their flesh is delicate and can tear easily if buffeted.

• Direct contact with rock edges – Can cut their tissue and lead to infection.

• Crowding – Needs open space around it due to its aggressive nature.

Common Issues:

• Elegance Coral Syndrome (ECS): This mysterious condition can cause sudden tissue recession and death. It’s more common in wild-collected Indo-Pacific specimens than Australian ones.

• Tissue Recession: Often triggered by stress, injury, poor lighting, or too much flow.

• Brown jelly infections: Can occur if flesh is damaged. Act fast with iodine dips and fragging if needed.

Feeding Tips:

• Target feeding 1–2x a week helps with growth and overall health.

• Use coral tongs or a turkey baster to gently deliver food to its tentacles.

• Turn off flow briefly while feeding so food doesn’t blow away.