The Watermelon Chalice (Echinophyllia sp. / Echinopora sp., including iconic lineage variants like the Tyree Watermelon, Bazooka Joe, and TSA Rimless Watermelon) is one of the most famous, historically significant Large Polyp Stony (LPS) corals in the reef hobby. Renowned for its iconic high-contrast color scheme reminiscent of a sliced watermelon, this cultivar features a fiery crimson-to-pink central tissue base studded with glowing neon-yellow or emerald-green oral eyes, bounded by a striking chartreuse or neon-green growing rim edge.
Coloration: Vibrant crimson-red, magenta, or hot pink tissue base, studded with glowing neon-yellow or bright emerald-green mouth eyes, and framed by an electric chartreuse or neon-green growing rim.
Growth Pattern: Encrusting and Plating (forms a thick encrusting base mat over rockwork before throwing out delicate, cup-shaped plating scroll ledges as the colony matures). WYSIWYG.
Lighting: Low to Moderate (PAR 75–150).
Water Flow: Low to Moderate (Gentle, indirect current to allow full flesh expansion and prevent sweeping tentacle damage).
Feeding: Aggressive feeder; extends clear, sticky feeder tentacles at night to capture mysis shrimp, chopped seafood, liquid amino acids, and meaty LPS pellets.
Aggressiveness: Semi-Aggressive to Aggressive (extends long, clear sweeper tentacles at night that can sting neighboring softies, SPS, or less aggressive LPS corals).
Care Level: Moderate (Requires stable water parameters, controlled PAR, and sufficient space to accommodate night-time sweeper tentacle expansion).
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