Fun Flowerpot Coral Facts For Kids

Have you seen a red flowerpot coral? A flowerpot coral is a stony coral that belongs to the Anthozoa class. They are the most unique and adorable creatures and look like a bouquet of flowers when their polyps are opened. Flowerpot coral (Goniopora) can also be called a green Goniopora flowerpot coral, sunflower coral, daisy coral, and many more names. They are usually found in lagoons and are also seen in the pet trade. Green flowerpot coral (Goniopora) are very bright corals with a variety of colors. If you wish to get one for your home, then you must arrange for suitable water conditions, metal halides, and phytoplankton substitutes for their food source, and plankton cultures. They need foods that are rich in iron and manganese.

There are many characteristics about the flowerpot coral (Goniopora) that will make you more curious. What are you waiting for? Here are some fun, engaging, and interesting facts on flowerpot coral. Afterwards, do read our other articles on fire coral facts and soft coral facts as well.

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What type of animal is a flowerpot coral?

Flowerpot coral (Goniopora) is a stony coral that belongs to the Poritidae family. They have numerous daisy-like polyps which are extended to the outside. Flowerpot corals are usually found in lagoons and the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Flowerpot corals sometimes look like a bouquet of flowers and are avid feeders that will die soon if they lack foods that are rich in iron and manganese.

What class of animal does a flowerpot coral belong to?

Flowerpot coral is a stony coral that belongs to the Anthozoa class. Flowerpot coral comes under the Scleractinia order of the Poritidae family. Flowerpot coral (Goniopora) belong to the Goniopora genus and have several species.

How many flowerpot corals are there in the world?

There is no accurate estimate of the total number of green flowerpot coral species in the world. But as this species has been listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, their population is decreasing.

Where does a flowerpot coral live?

Flowerpot coral is seen widely around the Indo-West Pacific region and thrives in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Green flowerpot coral can be mostly found in the Indian Ocean, Persian Sea as well as in the parts of Hong Kong, Bali, and the Solomon Islands.

What is a flowerpot coral's habitat?

A flowerpot coral usually lives in lagoons, coral reefs, and tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean. They are also seen on rocky shores. Flowerpot corals are naturally adaptable and are seen freely living on sandy substrate. Flowerpot coral needs lower to strong light and can be kept in tanks as well.

Who do flowerpot corals live with?

Flowerpot coral mostly lives in colonies rather than alone. The flowerpot coral requires suitable water conditions and moderate water flow to survive.

How long does a flowerpot coral live?

The lifespan of flowerpot coral is not known and is assumed to be short. It is very difficult to maintain them in captivity for flowerpot corals have peculiar requirements in terms of water flow, tank size, and water movement. They require foods that are rich in manganese and iron.

How do they reproduce?

Flowerpot corals can reproduce sexually and asexually. In sexual reproduction, flowerpot coral produces egg and sperm at the same time and sexual reproduction usually occurs in the wild. In asexual reproduction, daughter cells grow through a process of fragging.

What is their conservation status?

Flowerpot corals have been listed as a Near Threatened species in the IUCN Red List as their population has been decreasing in the wild.  

What do flowerpot corals look like?

Flowerpot corals or Goniopora is a stony coral species that is beautiful and unique in appearance. They are also known as sunflower coral, ball coral, daisy coral, or yoo stone coral. These corals grow in thick columns. The colony’s base is rounded and extended down. They have hard stony skeletons and their polyps have six tentacles or more.

How cute are they?

Flowerpot corals are beautiful and unique and attractive in appearance with their long tentacles. They look like a bunch of flowers when they open all their polyps.

How do they communicate?

Flowerpot coral or Goniopora communicate with each other in a complex way. They use chemical signals or smells for communication. Flowerpot corals have a symbiotic relationship with marine algae, zooxanthellae, which will provide them with nutrients.

How big is a flowerpot coral?

Flowerpot coral or Goniopora is a small stony coral and has a length of 5.5 in (13.9 cm) with tentacles measuring up to 12 in (30 cm). The growth rate for bigger corals is around 0.8 in (2 cm) per year but branching corals can grow up to 4 in (10 cm) per year.

How fast can a flowerpot coral move?

Flowerpot coral or Goniopora move very slowly and their exact speed has not been documented yet.

How much does a flowerpot coral weigh?

Flowerpot corals can weigh up to 4 oz (113 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

As flowerpot coral is a stony coral, it belongs to the Goniopora genus. A male and female flowerpot coral do not have any specific name.

What would you call a baby flowerpot coral?

A baby flowerpot coral is called a planula.

What do they eat?

Flowerpot corals are carnivores. They feed on phytoplankton and brine shrimps. Flowerpot coral has a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, marine algae through which it gets a lot of nutrients.  They require iron, manage and calcium abundantly.

The main predator of flowerpot coral is the crown-of-thorns starfish.

Are they poisonous?

Flowerpot corals or Goniopora are known to be poisonous. They contain toxic substances.

Would they make a good pet?

Flowerpot corals are kept as pets. It is difficult to keep them alive in captivity as it requires special living conditions and different requirements. It takes around a year or two to grow a coral in your tank.

Did you know...

Flowerpot coral needs calcium and iron supplements in order to maintain its massive skeletal structure.

Goniopora corals catch food particles or planktonic organisms from the water column. They will then absorb the dissolved organic matter and complete their feeding process.

Keeping flowerpot corals

Flowerpot coral is hard to keep. It is very difficult to take care of them. They require a proper combination of light, food supplements, and environment during the aquarium care. They require a moderate water flow along with strong light. There should be enough calcium and carbonate supplements along with iron and manganese for them to stay healthy. They must be placed on a sturdy rock and must have enough space in the aquarium to grow and move their tentacles.

Is Goniopora photosynthetic?

Flowerpot coral or Goniopora are photosynthetic corals that absorb nutrients from light. So it should be kept somewhere where adequate lighting is present. Insufficient light may cause discoloration and can turn them into a brown color. Even inside the tank, proper lighting conditions are required. Metal halide lighting is usually used in the tank.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these brain coral facts and candy cane coral facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable flowerpot coral coloring pages.