Purple Fur Palau Hydnophora

Hydnophora gets its genus name from the Greek for 'water-bearing,' but the more useful fact is that this is one of the more aggressive LPS you can keep — those short, fuzzy polyps are basically a minefield of nematocysts, and the coral will happily sting anything that grows too close. In deep purple, the fine polyp extension gives it a textured, almost furred look that's more interesting up close than most photos capture. It's a fast grower once settled, encrusting over rock and branching outward, so plan its neighbors with a buffer zone in mind.

Care level: Moderate · Light/Flow/Placement: Moderate-high light, moderate-high flow, mid tank with space from neighbors · Max size: Encrusting/branching, spreads several inches per year · Diet: Photosynthetic, occasional meaty feeding