My Blue Tip Frogspawn’s blue highlights are fading—what’s the likely cause and fix?

Fading tips often follow spectrum shifts, low blue/actinic intensity, or elevated nutrients that darken zooxanthellae. Keep moderate PAR (80–150) heavy in 420–460 nm, maintain low but non-zero nitrate and phosphate, and avoid rapid light changes. Stable alkalinity and magnesium help skeletal health, which supports pigment stability. Don’t dose trace elements blindly—test first and use activated carbon if yellowing water is muting fluorescence.

How does Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa branch, and what’s the safest way to frag it?

It forms thin, tree-like branches with clear separation points. Cut the bare skeleton between heads using bone cutters or a low-speed diamond saw—never through living tissue. Dip in iodine, remove any loose skeleton shards, and mount so the head isn’t torqued by flow. Allow recovery in moderate light/flow, then resume target feeding. Avoid fragging during recent alkalinity swings or after transport.

How can I tell normal slime from brown jelly, and what’s an effective response?

Normal mucus is clear and transient; brown jelly appears as opaque, coffee-colored blobs with rapid tissue loss and foul odor. Immediately siphon the goo, remove the affected head, and perform an iodine or low-dose hydrogen peroxide dip. Increase flow around remaining tissue, run fresh carbon, consider a small water change, and quarantine if possible. UV can reduce spread in heavily stocked systems.

What flow pattern suits this coral, and how do I prevent polyp bailout?

Aim for a gentle, alternating sway—polyps should extend fully without collapsing or whipping. Direct, laminar blasts or constant turbulence can bruise tissue and trigger bailout, especially after alkalinity or temperature swings. Use cross-flow or pulsed gyres, soften pump output with angles, and stabilize pH overnight via surface agitation or a reverse-lit refugium. Keep rock edges smooth where tentacles contact.

Blue Tip Frogspawn Coral

Frogspawn

Overview

Blue Tip Frogspawn Coral shows branching heads with fleshy, hammer-shaped tentacles tipped in blue. Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa is a branching large-polyp stony coral that prefers moderate light and gentle to moderate, indirect flow. It relies on symbiotic algae for most nutrition but accepts small meaty foods, which can support growth and maintain color. Place it with space around the colony, as sweeper tentacles can sting nearby corals.

Quick Facts

Care Moderate

Lighting Moderate

Flow Low to Moderate

Placement Mid–Low

Temperament Semi-aggressive (6–10 inches spacing)

Recommended Parameters

Temp 76–80°F

pH 8.1–8.4

Salinity 1.025–1.026

Calcium 400–450 ppm

AlkAlkalinity 8–10 dKH

Magnesium 1280–1400 ppm

Feeding photosynthetic, mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood (krill/shrimp), zooplankton, microplankton, marine snow, coral-specific powdered foods

Care & Placement

Blue Tip Frogspawn Coral (Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa) thrives with stable, moderate conditions and room to expand its long branching tentacles. Place it mid to lower in the tank under moderate light (PAR ~75–150), avoiding sudden exposure to high-intensity LEDs to prevent bleaching; acclimate to light by starting shaded or using screens over 1–2 weeks. Provide gentle to moderate, indirect flow that keeps the polyps swaying without blasting the tissue; this helps prevent detritus buildup and brown jelly infections. Target feed 1–2 times weekly with small meaty foods (mysis, enriched brine, finely chopped seafood) or a fine coral food; feed lightly to avoid nutrient spikes. Maintain temperature 76–80°F, pH 8.1–8.4, salinity 1.025–1.026, calcium 400–450 ppm, alkalinity 8.0–9.5 dKH, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, nitrate 2–10 ppm, and phosphate 0.03–0.1 ppm. Use reliable test kits and a refractometer; this species is sensitive to rapid salinity and alkalinity swings.Give 6–8 inches of space from other corals; sweepers can reach several inches and sting neighbors, especially SPS and some LPS. Mount on stable rock with room for growth; avoid high-flow tips and dirty sandbed pockets. Drip acclimate 30–45 minutes, handle by the skeleton, and wear gloves (mild sting). Watch for signs of stress: pale tissue (too much light or low nutrients), recession (unstable alk, low flow, pests), or brown jelly (frag and iodine dip, improve flow, remove dead tissue). Stable, moderate conditions and patience yield full, vibrant heads and steady growth.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Blue Tip Frogspawn Coral

My Blue Tip Frogspawn’s blue highlights are fading—what’s the likely cause and fix?

Fading tips often follow spectrum shifts, low blue/actinic intensity, or elevated nutrients that darken zooxanthellae. Keep moderate PAR (80–150) heavy in 420–460 nm, maintain low but non-zero nitrate and phosphate, and avoid rapid light changes. Stable alkalinity and magnesium help skeletal health, which supports pigment stability. Don’t dose trace elements blindly—test first and use activated carbon if yellowing water is muting fluorescence.
How does Fimbriaphyllia paradivisa branch, and what’s the safest way to frag it?

It forms thin, tree-like branches with clear separation points. Cut the bare skeleton between heads using bone cutters or a low-speed diamond saw—never through living tissue. Dip in iodine, remove any loose skeleton shards, and mount so the head isn’t torqued by flow. Allow recovery in moderate light/flow, then resume target feeding. Avoid fragging during recent alkalinity swings or after transport.
How can I tell normal slime from brown jelly, and what’s an effective response?

Normal mucus is clear and transient; brown jelly appears as opaque, coffee-colored blobs with rapid tissue loss and foul odor. Immediately siphon the goo, remove the affected head, and perform an iodine or low-dose hydrogen peroxide dip. Increase flow around remaining tissue, run fresh carbon, consider a small water change, and quarantine if possible. UV can reduce spread in heavily stocked systems.
What flow pattern suits this coral, and how do I prevent polyp bailout?

Aim for a gentle, alternating sway—polyps should extend fully without collapsing or whipping. Direct, laminar blasts or constant turbulence can bruise tissue and trigger bailout, especially after alkalinity or temperature swings. Use cross-flow or pulsed gyres, soften pump output with angles, and stabilize pH overnight via surface agitation or a reverse-lit refugium. Keep rock edges smooth where tentacles contact.

Shop

Shop Related

Hand-picked Frogspawn for your Blue Tip Frogspawn Coral.