TSA Vault Rare Corals

104 Rare corals from our farm, hand-picked one piece at a time

The TSA Vault holds the rare and exotic corals we are proudest of. Out of the thousands of corals growing on our farm, only a small number make it in, picked one at a time for color, health, growth form, and rarity. Most are WYSIWYG, so the coral in the pho... Read more Show less

The TSA Vault holds the rare and exotic corals we are proudest of. Out of the thousands of corals growing on our farm, only a small number make it in, picked one at a time for color, health, growth form, and rarity. Most are WYSIWYG, so the coral in the photo is the one that ships. Expect named Acropora, holy grail torch corals, Scolymia, chalices, and high end zoanthids, often with only one available.

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Popular live coral picks

Compare Rare Corals in the TSA Vault

Compare our most popular live corals by care level, lighting, flow, growth, placement, and temperament — from beginner-friendly softies to advanced SPS.

CC 21 Tails Torch Coral

Starting at $349.99

Care Level: Moderate
Flow: Moderate
Lighting: Moderate
Growth rate: Moderate
Placement: Low–Mid
Temperament: Aggressive

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TSA My Chemical Romance Chalice Coral

Starting at $49.99

Care Level: Moderate
Flow: Low–Moderate
Lighting: Low–Moderate
Growth rate: Moderate
Placement: Low–Mid
Temperament: Aggressive

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Krak God Zoanthids Coral

Starting at $109.99

Care Level: Easy
Flow: Moderate
Lighting: Low–Moderate
Growth rate: Moderate
Placement: Low–Mid
Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive

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TSA Fantasia Goniopora Coral

Starting at $249.99

Care Level: Difficult
Flow: Moderate
Lighting: Low–Moderate
Growth rate: Slow
Placement: Low
Temperament: Semi-aggressive

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Master Scolymia Coral

Starting at $999.99

Care Level: Moderate
Flow: Low–Moderate
Lighting: Low–Moderate
Growth rate: Moderate
Placement: Low
Temperament: Aggressive

View details

Answers

Rare Corals FAQ

What makes a coral rare?

In the reef hobby, rarity comes down to how many of a coral exist in captivity. A new color morph can start as a single colony, and it takes time before there is enough of it to share. Slow growers like grail torches and many named Acropora take a long time to produce frags, and single-polyp corals like Scolymia are rarely fragged at all. Color that shows up in only one colony, grafted combinations, and well-known lineages are all scarce, and that is what we look for in the Vault.

Why are rare corals so expensive?

Supply and time. A torch head has to grow and split before it can be cut, a named Acropora needs months to grow out a frag, and a Scolymia is usually one animal, so there are only so many to go around. Add demand for a color few people have, and prices climb quickly. With WYSIWYG colonies you are also paying for size, since a larger piece represents a lot of growth.

How much does a holy grail torch coral cost?

It depends on the number of heads and how intense the color is. In the TSA Vault, torches usually range from about $125 for smaller frags to several hundred dollars for grafted, glitter, and larger WYSIWYG pieces. Torches split slowly, so even a single head takes time to produce, and that keeps supply low.

Are the corals in the TSA Vault WYSIWYG?

Most of them are. A listing tagged WYSIWYG shows the exact coral that will ship to you. Named TSA Signature corals with several pieces in stock are sold as frags of that coral, so the one you get will closely match the photo without being that exact piece.

Are rare corals harder to keep?

Not always. Rarity describes how many exist, and difficulty is a separate question. The Scolymia, chalices, plate corals, and mushrooms in the Vault want low to moderate light and gentle flow, and they are reasonable for an intermediate reefer. Rare Acropora and Goniopora need a mature tank with stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. Our advice from the farm: do not let a high-end coral be the first test of a new tank, and acclimate slowly before placing it.

Where can I buy rare and collector-grade corals online?

The TSA Vault at Top Shelf Aquatics is our collection of rare and collector-grade corals, including limited named Acropora, grail and grafted torches, Scolymia, chalices, and TSA Signature strains grown out on our farm. Most Vault corals are WYSIWYG, so the photo shows the exact coral that ships, and new pieces are added as they finish growing out. Wherever you shop for collector corals, choose a seller that photographs the actual piece, documents lineage, and grows corals out long enough to prove they hold color in captivity. Vault orders ship FedEx Priority Overnight, livestock orders over $299 ship free, and adding Reef Guard at checkout extends the coral guarantee from 2 hours to 5 days.

Live coral buying guide

How a coral makes it into the TSA Vault

We run one of the largest coral aquaculture facilities in the industry, so there are thousands of corals growing here at any time. The Vault is the short list. Our team, with more than 100 years of combined experience, pulls pieces one at a time when the color, health, and growth form are well above what we normally see. Some are TSA Signature corals we named ourselves, and some are known lineages from growers like JF, WWC, and Vivid’s. If you are hunting for high end corals, this is our coral vault: each piece is listed only while it is in stock, and many are the only one we have.

Rare Acropora and SPS colonies

Named Acropora make up the biggest part of the Vault, mostly WYSIWYG tenuis and other named colonies. These are high-light, high-flow SPS corals for an established reef, and they hold their color best when alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium stay steady. If a rare Acropora is going to be your first SPS, get a few months of stable test results behind you before you buy.

Holy grail torches, chalices, and Goniopora

Our rarest torch corals include grafted glitter and named grail torches, alongside other Euphyllia like cristata. Vault chalice corals are chosen for eyes and rims in colors that are hard to find anywhere else, including grafted pieces. We also keep a few named Goniopora here for experienced keepers. Torches and chalices both put out long sweeper tentacles at night, so leave several inches between them and their neighbors.

Scolymia, plate corals, mushrooms, and zoanthids

The low-light side of the Vault is just as rare. Scolymia, including master, ultra, and bleeding apple scolys, are single-polyp corals that belong on the sand bed, and rainbow plate corals and grafted Diaseris sit in the same spot. For the rockwork, look for high end mushroom corals like bounce and Yuma, and collector zoanthids with only a few polyps available at a time. Most of these do well in low to moderate light and gentle flow.

WYSIWYG corals and what to expect on arrival

Most Vault listings are WYSIWYG corals, so the photo shows the exact coral you will receive. Keep in mind that our photos are taken under our reef lighting, and your aquarium lighting will change how a coral looks. A coral fresh out of the box often looks paler or more closed up than in its photo. Give it a few days, start it lower in the tank than its final spot, and move it up only once it has opened fully. Our acclimation center covers the process step by step, and reliable water testing equipment makes it easy to confirm your parameters before and after.

Overnight shipping and our Alive Arrival Guarantee

Vault corals ship FedEx Priority Overnight within the 48 contiguous United States, and livestock orders of $299 or more ship free, so most Vault pieces qualify on their own. If a coral arrives dead, submit a DOA request with photos within 2 hours of the FedEx delivery time. See our shipping policy and refund policy for full details, and check New Releases for the newest named corals from our systems.