- Common name
- Anthelia
- Scientific name
- Anthelia spp.
- Category
- Coral
- Group
- Soft corals
- Environment
- Marine reef aquarium
- Origin
- Tropical Indo-Pacific; exact range depends on the identified species
- Care level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Adult size
- Unknown as a single genus-wide maximum — colonies can expand across available rock through creeping tissue and detached fragments
- Expected lifespan
- Colony persistence can be many years under stable care, but no honest genus-wide maximum applies to unidentified trade stock.
- Minimum housing
- No universal litre minimum; use a mature stable reef with an isolated removable rock and at least 15–20 cm initial clearance from other sessile animals
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4
- Hardness / minerals
- Alkalinity 7–11 °dKH (approximately 125–196 mg/L as CaCO₃); calcium 400–450 mg/L; magnesium 1,250–1,400 mg/L
- Salinity
- 33–35 ppt; specific gravity approximately 1.024–1.026 at 25 °C
- Lighting
- Unknown genus-wide — begin with low-to-moderate reef lighting and acclimate according to extension, colour and tissue response
- Placement / zone
- Lower to middle rockwork on an isolated removable rock
- Filtration
- Use mature reef biological filtration and fine accessible mechanical capture that removes detritus and loose fragments without stripping all suspended nutrition. Intake and overflow guards must prevent fragments entering hidden plumbing.
- Aeration
- Maintain strong whole-system gas exchange with gentle broad local water movement. Avoid stagnant pockets within the mat and avoid a narrow jet that keeps polyps retracted or tears tissue.
- Maintenance
- Inspect all neighbouring and downstream surfaces, siphon detritus, prune only with clean tools, recover every fragment, monitor alkalinity and salinity, and keep the original colony on removable isolated rock.
Identity and search names
Genus-level guide only. Species-specific range, maximum colony size, light tolerance and reproduction remain Unknown unless the specimen is identified reliably.
Search names: Waving hand coral, Anthelia soft coral, Glove coral
Environment and housing
Use a mature reef aquarium with stable temperature, salinity and alkalinity. Mount on an isolated removable rock where fragments can be recovered and surrounding surfaces can be inspected.
Social structure: Clonal spreading colony; no fish-style social group applies. Treat every connected mat and detached fragment as part of the future colony footprint.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Many traded Anthelia depend heavily on symbiotic algae and dissolved or fine suspended nutrition; exact requirements are species-dependent
Feeding routine: Do not compensate for poor light or instability by heavy feeding. Keep nutrients measurable but controlled and remove trapped detritus.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Cut or peel only healthy tissue with clean tools outside the display where practical. Secure fragments, label lineage and discard unwanted tissue securely.
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- Genus-level guide only. Species-specific range, maximum colony size, light tolerance and reproduction remain Unknown unless the specimen is identified reliably.
- Adult size and space
- No dependable genus-wide maximum is available. Treat every open neighbouring rock surface as potential future colony area and keep the original colony removable.
- Social structure
- Clonal spreading colony; no fish-style social group applies. Treat every connected mat and detached fragment as part of the future colony footprint.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Lower to middle rockwork is a conservative starting point; adjust only after gradual light acclimation and observation.
- Feeding ecology
- Primarily photosynthetic for commonly traded forms, with dissolved and fine suspended nutrition also available.
- Feeding plan
- Do not compensate for poor light or instability by heavy feeding. Keep nutrients measurable but controlled and remove trapped detritus.
- Water stability
- Maintain 24–27 °C, pH 8.0–8.4, salinity 33–35 ppt, alkalinity 7–11 °dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L and magnesium 1,250–1,400 mg/L with minimal daily fluctuation.
- Habitat structure
- Use an isolated rock, gentle broad flow and enough surrounding access to prune the mat and siphon fragments.
- Compatibility plan
- Keep away from slow-growing corals and any surface that cannot be removed or cleaned. Monitor downstream surfaces for detached fragments.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Cut or peel only healthy tissue with clean tools outside the display where practical. Secure fragments, label lineage and discard unwanted tissue securely.
- Quarantine
- Quarantine on a separate removable substrate. Inspect the mat and underside for nudibranchs, flatworms, algae and other hitchhikers before display placement.
- Welfare checks
- Check polyp extension, tissue attachment, colour, mucus, detritus accumulation, recession, bleaching and uncontrolled spread.
- Biosecurity and release
- Use traceable legally sourced stock, quarantine on removable substrate and never release coral, fragments, pests, live rock or aquarium water. Verify current Australian wildlife-trade, import and South Australian requirements before acquisition or transfer.
- Main risk
- Uncontrolled spread combined with uncertain trade identification.
- Adult projected load
- Projected load is expanding soft tissue, mucus, trapped detritus, dissolved organic output and fragment production. Calcification demand is low relative to stony coral, but nutrient and containment burden can become high as the mat spreads.
- Filtration
- Use mature reef biological filtration and fine accessible mechanical capture that removes detritus and loose fragments without stripping all suspended nutrition. Intake and overflow guards must prevent fragments entering hidden plumbing.
- Aeration
- Maintain strong whole-system gas exchange with gentle broad local water movement. Avoid stagnant pockets within the mat and avoid a narrow jet that keeps polyps retracted or tears tissue.
- Maintenance
- Inspect all neighbouring and downstream surfaces, siphon detritus, prune only with clean tools, recover every fragment, monitor alkalinity and salinity, and keep the original colony on removable isolated rock.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: keep the colony removable and contained, recover every fragment, preserve stable salinity and temperature, and prevent contact with vulnerable neighbours. Light, flow and feeding may be adjusted only gradually from observed tissue response.
- Identity
- Anthelia is an accepted soft-coral genus. “Waving hand coral” is an imprecise trade name also applied to Xenia and other octocorals, so identify polyp and mat structure rather than relying on movement or colour.
- Environment
- Use a mature reef aquarium with stable temperature, salinity and alkalinity. Mount on an isolated removable rock where fragments can be recovered and surrounding surfaces can be inspected.
- Feeding
- Maintain suitable light, stable measurable nutrients and normal reef plankton availability. Optional fine particulate feeding must not create detritus accumulation or nutrient spikes.
- Breeding
- Colonies can spread vegetatively through creeping tissue and fragments. Species may also reproduce sexually, but a universal aquarium reproductive cycle cannot be stated for unidentified trade stock.
- Colony Space
- No dependable genus-wide maximum is available. Treat every open neighbouring rock surface as potential future colony area and keep the original colony removable.
- Aggression Spacing
- Direct chemical and overgrowth competition can damage neighbouring corals even without obvious sweeper tentacles. Maintain clearance and prevent physical contact.
- Placement Zone
- Lower to middle rockwork is a conservative starting point; adjust only after gradual light acclimation and observation.
- Propagation plan
- Cut or peel only healthy tissue with clean tools outside the display where practical. Secure fragments, label lineage and discard unwanted tissue securely.
- Biosecurity and release
- Use legally sourced stock with traceable provenance. Verify current Australian import, wildlife-trade and state requirements. Never release coral, fragments, pests or aquarium water.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Keep isolated from main rockwork and away from corals it can overgrow. Allow at least 15–20 cm initially and reassess as the colony spreads.
Welfare: Check extension, attachment, colour, mucus, detritus, tissue recession, bleaching and whether the colony is escaping its removable rock. Uncontrolled spread is a welfare and system-management failure, not proof of health.
Main warning: Trade identification is unreliable and the colony can spread beyond its intended rock. Do not buy it unless continuous containment and pruning are acceptable.
Biosecurity and release
Use traceable legally sourced stock, quarantine on removable substrate and never release coral, fragments, pests, live rock or aquarium water. Verify current Australian wildlife-trade, import and South Australian requirements before acquisition or transfer.