Coral species · Scoly Coral

Homophyllia australis

A large, fleshy, solitary coral with dramatic colour: the Aussie Scoly, formerly Scolymia australis.

Overview

Homophyllia australis is the coral most hobbyists know as the Aussie Scoly, long traded as Scolymia australis. It is a solitary coral: a single large, fleshy polyp that can grow to the size of a saucer.

Found in Australian waters, it is one of the most collectable LPS corals, prized for its bold patterns and colour.

Appearance and colour

The polyp is fleshy and domed, with radiating texture and a central mouth. Colour combinations are almost endless, from reds and greens to striped, spotted and multi-coloured “rainbow” pieces.

Care in the aquarium

Place it on the sand bed or low on the rockwork, in low flow and low to moderate light. Strong light or flow can stop the tissue from inflating. It feeds readily on meaty foods, which supports growth and colour. Keep it a little apart from neighbours, as it can sting at night.

At a glance

Scoly Coral

Type LPS (large polyp stony)
Also known as Aussie Scoly, Scolymia australis
Lighting Low to moderate
Water flow Low
Placement Sand bed or low on the reef
Feeding Meaty foods; feeds readily
Care level Easy to moderate
Temperament Mildly aggressive

Every coral is unique. Photos are representative of the species; each colony varies in shape, size and colour.

Responsibly sourced

How we source Homophyllia australis

Our corals are collected on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef, from the northern areas of the Reef down to Bundaberg, our home. Our diving collection vessels are equipped for long-distance travel, so we can find the best corals and keep them in pristine condition on the way to our holding facility.

Jeremy leads our harvesting team, which is extensively trained in safe, sustainable collecting techniques. We work to a strictly limited quota across broad reef areas within specific zones, taking small numbers of corals of limited size and premium quality and leaving the majority of the coral intact.

At our Bundaberg holding facility, Travis and the team fine-tune feeding, lighting and husbandry so every coral is in top condition before it is carefully packed and shipped. Our growing aquaculture program supports our vision of offering a 100% aquacultured source of premium corals.

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Limited, selective harvest

A strictly limited quota, taken from broad reef areas in specific zones. Small numbers, limited sizes and premium quality.

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Stewardship and certification

We participate in Provision Reef, an industry stewardship program, and maintain CITES certification for responsible sourcing.

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Towards 100% aquacultured

Our growing aquaculture program in Bundaberg supports our vision of a fully aquacultured source of premium corals.

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