Clove Polyp Care Guide (Clavularia)
Clove polyps (Clavularia), sometimes called glove or fern polyps, are a fast-growing, beginner-friendly soft coral that forms a swaying carpet of eight-tentacled polyps. They come in greens, browns, and striking neon variants, and their constant gentle motion adds life and movement to the reef. Clove polyps are hardy and undemanding — the main thing to understand is that they spread quickly, so you’ll want to plan where they can and can’t go. This guide covers lighting, flow, placement, parameters, feeding, containment, and acclimation.
Care Level: Excellent for Beginners
Clove polyps are among the easiest corals to keep. They tolerate a wide range of conditions and grow readily. The one thing to manage is their spreading habit — on connected rock they can carpet over neighbors given time.
Quick-Reference Care Parameters
| Coral type | Soft / colonial polyp |
| Care level | Beginner |
| Lighting | Low–Moderate · PAR 50–150 |
| Flow | Moderate, random |
| Placement | Rock, low to mid (consider an isolated island) |
| Temperature | 76–82°F (ideal ~78°F) |
| Salinity | 1.024–1.026 (~35 ppt) |
| Alkalinity | 8–11 dKH |
| Calcium | 400–450 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1250–1350 ppm |
| Nitrate | 2–10 ppm |
| Phosphate | 0.03–0.10 ppm |
| Feeding | Optional · mostly photosynthetic |
| Aggression | Low sting, but spreads and can overgrow neighbors |
Lighting
Clove polyps are adaptable and thrive under low-to-moderate light (PAR 50–150). Neon and green varieties show their best color in the moderate range under a blue-heavy spectrum. They’ll grow under almost any reef light — just acclimate gradually if moving them brighter.
Water Flow
Give clove polyps moderate, random flow. Good movement keeps them clean and makes the polyps sway attractively, while discouraging detritus and algae. Avoid a direct blast, which keeps them retracted.
Placement & Containment
Place clove polyps on rock, low to mid in the tank. Because they spread across connected surfaces, many reefers mount them on an isolated rock or “island” surrounded by open sand so they can’t creep onto other corals. In a mixed reef, plan for their growth — they’re easy to trim back, but easiest to manage if contained from the start.
Water Parameters
Clove polyps aren’t heavy calcifiers and are undemanding, but they still appreciate stability — steady temperature and salinity, alkalinity in the 8–11 dKH range, and a little nutrient in the water. They do well in tanks that aren’t kept ultra-sterile.
Feeding
Clove polyps are primarily photosynthetic and rarely need feeding. They’ll do fine on light alone, though you can offer occasional fine foods or phytoplankton if you like — it isn’t necessary for health.
Common Problems
- Staying closed: usually detritus on the polyps, a direct flow stream, a parameter swing, or new-frag stress. Improve flow, confirm stability, and give it a few days.
- Spreading too far: trim or scrape back the mat, or start them on an isolated island to keep them contained.
- Slow to attach: secure a new frag to rock with glue or a rubber band until it grips.
How to Acclimate Your New Clove Polyps
- Temperature match (15–20 min): Float the sealed bag with lights dimmed to equalize temperature.
- Drip acclimate (20–40 min): Open into a clean container and drip tank water in slowly until the volume roughly doubles.
- Coral dip: A quick reef-safe dip removes hitchhikers; rinse in clean saltwater afterward.
- Placement: Secure the frag to rock (ideally an isolated island) in moderate flow and moderate light.
- Let it settle: Don’t worry if the polyps stay closed for a day or two after shipping — that’s normal. They’ll open and begin spreading as they adjust.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are clove polyps good for beginners?
Yes — they’re one of the easiest, fastest-growing corals, and inexpensive to start with.
Do clove polyps spread like green star polyps?
They can spread across connected rock over time. Mount them on an isolated island surrounded by sand to keep them from creeping onto neighbors.
Why are my clove polyps closed?
Most often it’s detritus, a direct flow stream, a parameter swing, or simple new-frag stress. Improve flow and give them a few days.
What is WYSIWYG coral?
WYSIWYG means “What You See Is What You Get” — the exact colony pictured is the one shipped to you.
Shop WYSIWYG Clove Polyps & Care Guides
Browse our live coral for sale for this week’s hand-selected WYSIWYG clove polyp colonies. See more in our library, including the Zoanthid Care Guide, the Leather Coral Care Guide, and the Hammer & Frogspawn Care Guide.
