Torch corals have been in the hobby since practically the beginning – we’ve always had a special place for Euphyllia glabrescens in our various reef tanks. Despite its history in the reef aquarium hobby, for some reason this species has absolutely exploded in popularity as if they had just been discovered last year.
Part of the reason for this exponential interest in torch corals, or ‘Glabs’ as the Ozzies call them, is due to a sudden, unexpected shortage in the availability of gold torch corals from Australia. Much like the Colorado Sunburst anemone, gold torch corals went from around $75 per polyp to $200, $300 or more per corallite depending on the local reef aquarium market!
That makes any small colony of Australian gold torch worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 or more – other desirable strains like the orangish ‘Dragon Soul’ or the yellow & green Holy Grail torch corals have added even more hype to the bonfire of demand for E. glabrescens. Luckily for us, ReefStock Australia has become a staging area for freshly harvested Australian corals and one collector, Ocean Reefs Marine Aquariums has access to a bewildering variety and quantity of torch corals.
ORMA, as we like to call them, does all their coral collecting on the western coast of West Australia which is home to some exciting strains and colors of Euphyllia glabrescens. Among the normal orange, green and brown varieties there’s also a green strain with orange tip variety called the ‘Irish Torch’ coral, and another one is a deep dark brown with orange and green tips called the ‘Mexican Torch’ coral.
Two weeks ago at ReefStock Australia we went on a small torch coral shopping spree picking up a bouquet of diverse Glabs from ORMA. However if you’re coming to Orlando for MACNA and you also love torch corals, you’re in luck because ORMA is partnering with Cobalt Aquatics to bring their huge selection of Torch corals to MACNA. If you’re lucky you might even spot a rare Australian gold tip elegance coral!
