Common name: Pillar Coral

General information

Stelligera rigida, commonly known as Pillar Coral, is a species of hard coral that forms distinctive, vertically oriented columns or pillars. These structures can create complex habitats for a variety of marine life. Pillar Coral is known for its slow growth rate and long lifespan, which can contribute to the stability and complexity of the reef structures it helps form.

Care

Pillar Coral requires stable water conditions to thrive, with consistent salinity, temperature, and moderate to strong water flow to mimic their natural environment. They also need high lighting conditions provided by metal halides or high-output LEDs to support their symbiotic algae, zooxanthellae, which live within their tissues and provide energy through photosynthesis.

Symbiosis

Like many corals, Stelligera rigida has a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. These microscopic algae perform photosynthesis, providing the coral with nutrients. In return, the coral provides the algae with a protected environment and the compounds necessary for photosynthesis.

Habitat

Pillar Coral is typically found in the warm, shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. They prefer reef slopes and flat reef areas where they can receive ample sunlight for their zooxanthellae symbionts.