WYSIWYG Cotton Candy Torch

Description:

• Scientific Name: Euphyllia glabrescens

• Type: LPS (Large Polyp Stony) Coral

• Appearance:

  • Long, flowing tentacles that sway with the current, giving it a soft, elegant motion.

  • The "cotton candy" variety features pastel or neon pinks, purples, and blues, often with a minty or light green mouth and contrasting tips (white, yellow, or fluorescent).

  • Comes in branching form, which makes it easier to frag and care for compared to wall types.

Care Level: Moderate

Cotton Candy Torches are delicate but manageable for intermediate hobbyists with stable tanks.

Do:

• Provide space between corals – Their sweeper tentacles can extend several inches and sting neighbors.

• Target feed 1–2x/week with mysis, brine, or coral-specific food to boost growth and coloration.

• Use gentle, random flow – Enough to keep tentacles flowing but not whipping.

• Acclimate slowly to higher light – Intense PAR right away can bleach or stress it.

Avoid:

• Rough handling or high flow – Fragile tentacles can be torn easily.

• Sudden parameter shifts, especially in alkalinity, salinity, and temperature.

• Aggressive tankmates – Avoid coral-nipping fish and crabs.

Fragging:

• Fairly easy due to its branching skeleton.

• Use bone cutters to separate heads, making sure to give each frag a healthy portion of the skeleton and soft tissue.

Common Issues:

• Brown Jelly Disease – Can develop quickly if tissue is damaged. Remove affected heads immediately.

• Recession – Usually from poor flow, lighting stress, or water instability.

• Stinging neighbors – Even other Euphyllia species may be affected.

Bonus Tips:

• Under blue actinic lighting, Cotton Candy Torches glow like neon and become a true showpiece.

• A gentle wave-like current will make the tentacles dance beautifully.

• Keep up with trace elements and stable alk/Ca/Mg—this helps maintain their vivid coloration and growth.