Euphyllia glabrescens (torch coral)

**kevinpo** · 01-22-2003, 01:23 PM

Torch coral is a commonly available and easy to care for coral that does well under a wide variety of lighting and water conditions. It will grow rapidly by division when given regular small feedings of meaty foods. Feed each head 2 times a week and you will soon have a real prized coral. The skeleton forms branches with pom pom like heads at the ends giving a torch-like appearance. The round yellow balls at the ends contain stinging barbs that it uses to hold and immobilize small prey (mine has never eaten any fish in the 6 years or so I've owned it).

They like a gentle current to sway the tentacles back and forth. Mine has done very well under VHO, 175W halide, and 400W halide lighting. I propagate it by breaking off branches with one or two heads on them. The skeleton is lightweight and porous. I use garden clippers for the job

. I would recommend this for a first coral but be sure to give it plenty of room from other corals as it can expand greatly and sting its neighbors.

Here is a picture of it under VHO lighting:

Regards,
Kevin

Captain Clam · 01-23-2003, 06:40 PM

I dig my torches.

***zhenya*** · 01-23-2003, 10:15 PM

Very cool Kevin.Have your clownfishes tried to host in it?Mine did for awhile but gave it up later when the anemone was introduced.BTW,I feed mine as well about twice a week.Yours is just beautiful.

**kevinpo** · 01-23-2003, 11:55 PM

Gene,
No they already had two anemones. You can see them on the sand bed. They would host in both.

Regards,
Kevin

**kevinpo** · 01-24-2003, 12:01 AM

Here is a picture of it today.

Kevin

Python73 · 01-27-2003, 08:34 AM

Some beautiful torches. So why doesn't my torch look anything like those? Got this guy from a LFS, it was in his "dead" bin. I nursed it back to health from a green smudge in each of the three heads. But it just doesn't look like other torches I've seen. Any thoughts?

S !

**kevinpo** · 01-27-2003, 10:48 AM

Python73,
Euphyllia sp. have a wide variation in growth form and coloration. I like the bright green ones like yours better but around here they are more rare especially a few years ago when I got mine.

Regards,
Kevin

almostdiva · 01-28-2003, 02:37 PM

Been thinking about these......

OK -- I have a 55G w a 5 in dsb (so my tank is about 18 inches from the top to the sand bed). I am currently running 2X65 watt 50/50 PC lighting. Is it enough??

This guy gets placed in the sand bed, not the rock, right?

**kevinpo** · 01-28-2003, 04:59 PM

I think you could keep it if you placed it in the rockwork about 6" below the water and directly under the bulb. They don't have any requirement to be on the substrate. In my case I wanted to make sure it didn't sting any of my SPS corals that are in the rockwork.

HTH,
Kevin

almostdiva · 01-28-2003, 05:44 PM

Thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

neenish · 01-29-2003, 01:51 AM

Kevin,
What do you feed your torch? I have a concoction of blended meaty foods that I feed mine, but it isn't even close to the size of your torch.
Thanks.
Brian

**kevinpo** · 03-01-2003, 07:58 AM

Raw shrimp and Formula1 are what I feed it. If fed 2-3 times a week they will grow quite fast.

HTH,
Kevin

organicreefer · 03-21-2003, 06:58 PM

heres my torch coral-its one of my oldest peices-i think ive had it around four years now -maybe a little longer ..ive never fed it -and ive given /sold/and traded away at least ten heads from it .low flow and moderate light seem to give the best expansion /color ime.

zack s · 03-22-2003, 01:00 AM

organicreefer

it does not sting those sps????/

organicreefer · 03-22-2003, 02:50 PM

the torch is a little further away from those acros than it appears in the pic-it does however sting a few of the zoos now and then -theyve grown as close as they dare lol...

the torch is down in a little "laggon" area in the rocks =and the sps are on the top.

RadioPlay · 06-29-2003, 07:06 PM

Kevin,
I know I'm bringing back this old thread but I just was curious on how you fed your torch. I'm new to feeding corals so curious on the best approach/technique for a torch. Also I have a few heads that died on the torch should I just leave them on or should I clip them off. Thanks

RadioPlay

**kevinpo** · 06-30-2003, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioPlay

Kevin,
I know I'm bringing back this old thread but I just was curious on how you fed your torch. I'm new to feeding corals so curious on the best approach/technique for a torch. Also I have a few heads that died on the torch should I just leave them on or should I clip them off. Thanks

RadioPlay

You can clip off the dead branches to give the coral a better appearance (the skeleton is rather porous). Feeding the coral is the same as for all Euphyllia sp. place a small piece of meaty food in contact with the balls on the end of the tentacles and the coral will do the rest. The balls contain small harpoon like devices attached with a small thread that contain poison. The coral stings its prey much like an anemone. It is not harmful to humans and feels sticky when touched. It is believed the coral can sense proteins when it contacts a potential food source causing it to release the harpoon stingers which it then reels back in trapping its prey.

Raw shrimp from the store works well. I have placed mine right below where I feed my fish so it has a constant supply of small particles of food that are missed by the fish. As posted by Organicreefer they can do well without direct feeding also.

HTH,
Kevin

RadioPlay · 07-01-2003, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the tips Kevin! I'll give the shrimp a try this week.

One other question. My torch does not expand quite as much as the other pics on this thread, could that be a lighting issue? I use PC lights in a 55g. Thanks.

RadioPlay

**kevinpo** · 07-03-2003, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadioPlay

Thanks for the tips Kevin! I'll give the shrimp a try this week.

One other question. My torch does not expand quite as much as the other pics on this thread, could that be a lighting issue? I use PC lights in a 55g. Thanks.

RadioPlay

In lower lighting they usually expand more. I kept mine under VHO's for a few years and it expanded more. I could always tell when I needed a water change by its expansion. Right after a water change it would expand very large.

HTH,
Kevin

RadioPlay · 07-03-2003, 06:32 PM

I'll see if a water change helps. All my water params are good though. How about temp. It's been hot and humid here lately and my tank is running a little on the warm side. Thanks for your help Kevin.

RadioPlay

01-22-2003, 01:23 PM	#1
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Euphyllia glabrescens (torch coral) Torch coral is a commonly available and easy to care for coral that does well under a wide variety of lighting and water conditions. It will grow rapidly by division when given regular small feedings of meaty foods. Feed each head 2 times a week and you will soon have a real prized coral. The skeleton forms branches with pom pom like heads at the ends giving a torch-like appearance. The round yellow balls at the ends contain stinging barbs that it uses to hold and immobilize small prey (mine has never eaten any fish in the 6 years or so I've owned it). They like a gentle current to sway the tentacles back and forth. Mine has done very well under VHO, 175W halide, and 400W halide lighting. I propagate it by breaking off branches with one or two heads on them. The skeleton is lightweight and porous. I use garden clippers for the job . I would recommend this for a first coral but be sure to give it plenty of room from other corals as it can expand greatly and sting its neighbors. Here is a picture of it under VHO lighting: Regards, Kevin Attached Thumbnails __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-23-2003, 10:15 PM	#3
*zhenya* Owner Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new jersey,usa Posts: 7,872	Very cool Kevin.Have your clownfishes tried to host in it?Mine did for awhile but gave it up later when the anemone was introduced.BTW,I feed mine as well about twice a week.Yours is just beautiful. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Kind regards, Gene.

01-23-2003, 11:55 PM	#4
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Gene, No they already had two anemones. You can see them on the sand bed. They would host in both. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-24-2003, 12:01 AM	#5
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Here is a picture of it today. Kevin Attached Thumbnails __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-27-2003, 08:34 AM	#6
Python73 Just Moved In Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: PGH, PA Posts: 5	Some beautiful torches. So why doesn't my torch look anything like those? Got this guy from a LFS, it was in his "dead" bin. I nursed it back to health from a green smudge in each of the three heads. But it just doesn't look like other torches I've seen. Any thoughts? S ! Attached Thumbnails

01-23-2003, 06:40 PM	#2
Captain Clam Citizen Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 131	I dig my torches.

01-27-2003, 10:48 AM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Python73, Euphyllia sp. have a wide variation in growth form and coloration. I like the bright green ones like yours better but around here they are more rare especially a few years ago when I got mine. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-28-2003, 02:37 PM	#8
almostdiva Mayor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 972	Been thinking about these...... OK -- I have a 55G w a 5 in dsb (so my tank is about 18 inches from the top to the sand bed). I am currently running 2X65 watt 50/50 PC lighting. Is it enough?? This guy gets placed in the sand bed, not the rock, right?

01-28-2003, 04:59 PM	#9
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	I think you could keep it if you placed it in the rockwork about 6" below the water and directly under the bulb. They don't have any requirement to be on the substrate. In my case I wanted to make sure it didn't sting any of my SPS corals that are in the rockwork. HTH, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

01-28-2003, 05:44 PM	#10
almostdiva Mayor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 972	Thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

01-29-2003, 01:51 AM	#11
neenish Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Rowland Heights, CA Posts: 8	Kevin, What do you feed your torch? I have a concoction of blended meaty foods that I feed mine, but it isn't even close to the size of your torch. Thanks. Brian

03-01-2003, 07:58 AM	#12
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Raw shrimp and Formula1 are what I feed it. If fed 2-3 times a week they will grow quite fast. HTH, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

03-21-2003, 06:58 PM	#13
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	heres my torch coral-its one of my oldest peices-i think ive had it around four years now -maybe a little longer ..ive never fed it -and ive given /sold/and traded away at least ten heads from it .low flow and moderate light seem to give the best expansion /color ime. Attached Thumbnails

03-22-2003, 01:00 AM	#14
zack s Tenant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: SEATTLE,WA Posts: 79	organicreefer it does not sting those sps????/

03-22-2003, 02:50 PM	#15
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	the torch is a little further away from those acros than it appears in the pic-it does however sting a few of the zoos now and then -theyve grown as close as they dare lol... the torch is down in a little "laggon" area in the rocks =and the sps are on the top.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-29-2003, 07:06 PM	#16
RadioPlay Tenant Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fargo Posts: 72	Kevin, I know I'm bringing back this old thread but I just was curious on how you fed your torch. I'm new to feeding corals so curious on the best approach/technique for a torch. Also I have a few heads that died on the torch should I just leave them on or should I clip them off. Thanks RadioPlay

07-01-2003, 01:17 PM	#18
RadioPlay Tenant Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fargo Posts: 72	Thanks for the tips Kevin! I'll give the shrimp a try this week. One other question. My torch does not expand quite as much as the other pics on this thread, could that be a lighting issue? I use PC lights in a 55g. Thanks. RadioPlay

07-03-2003, 06:32 PM	#20
RadioPlay Tenant Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fargo Posts: 72	I'll see if a water change helps. All my water params are good though. How about temp. It's been hot and humid here lately and my tank is running a little on the warm side. Thanks for your help Kevin. RadioPlay

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode