Orange Pavona

The Orange Pavona (Pavona frondifera / Pavona cactus), often referred to as the Orange Cactus Coral or Potato Chip Coral, is a striking, fast-growing Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral known for its unique architectural growth and intense, warm metallic coloration. Famed for its paper-thin, wavy vertical fronds and velvety texture, this species features a vibrant tangerine-to-neon-orange coenosteum covered in tiny, star-like polyps that shimmer under both daylights and blue actinics.

Coloration: Radiant tangerine-orange to fiery amber coenosteum, densely studded with tiny, fluorescent orange-to-yellow oral discs and polyps.

Growth Pattern: Frondose / Foliose (forms delicate, ribbon-like vertical fronds and overlapping, wavy plates that resembles a cluster of crisp, ruffled leaves). Sold as a frag on a 0.5 – 1 inch frag plug.

Lighting: Moderate to High (PAR 150–250).

Water Flow: Moderate to High (Strong, multi-directional flow required to keep detritus from settling inside its intricate frond crevices).

Feeding: Photosynthetic; extends tiny micro-polyps to feed on micro-plankton, liquid amino acids, and fine particulate SPS feeds.

Aggressiveness: Semi-Aggressive (lacks long sweeper tentacles, but secretes potent digestive mesenterial filaments that can sting and damage neighboring corals that come into direct contact).

Care Level: Easy to Moderate (Exceptionally hardy and adaptable for an SPS coral, making it an excellent choice for reefers transitioning to Stony corals).