Torch Coral Identification Guide

Torch coral trade names can be confusing and are not standardized across the reef aquarium industry. The same color variety may be sold under different names, while names such as Holy Grail, Dragon Soul and Hellfire are sometimes applied to corals with noticeably different coloration.

This Torch Coral Identification Guide compares commonly used torch coral names using visible characteristics including tip color, tentacle color, mouth-area color and tentacle pattern. Use the photos and descriptions below to compare popular varieties such as Holy Grail, Dragon Soul, Hellfire, NY Knicks, Master, Jester and Tiger Torches. Color can vary with lighting, aquarium conditions and individual specimens, so trade-name identification should be treated as a visual guide rather than a scientific classification.

Looking for Torch Corals? Browse our current Torch Corals for Sale to see available varieties and individually photographed corals.

24K Torch

24K Torch

Also called: Wolverine

Bright blue tips against rich golden tentacles create beautiful contrast. The 24k color pattern is found on a variety of torches. Tightly branching varieties often have intense color but can be more difficult to care for than the more widely spaced branch varieties.
Tip Color:
Bright Blue
Tentacle Color:
Gold
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Banana Torch / Banana Grail

Banana Torch / Banana Grail

Banana grail torches were originally called banana torches. As vendors started misapplying the name to banana to more varieties of torches some vendors started calling the original green yellow banana torch "banana grail" The original 2021 Banana torch had white / very light blue tips.
Tip Color:
Blue / purple / white
Tentacle Color:
Yellow
Mouth Area Color:
Bright Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Black Panther Torch Coral

Black Panther Torch Coral

A darker color variation that has relatively more purple than gold on the tentacles.
Tip Color:
Blue
Tentacle Color:
Purple with some gold
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Blue Tip Green Torch

Blue Tip Green Torch

Also called: Hulk(can also have green tips), Todd's (Todd's is a specific lineage)

A common color combo but a great addition of color and movement. Often misidentified as Todd's torch but this specific lineage refers to an exceptionally long neon green tentacle torch. Any claims of true Todd's torches should be treated with a great deal of skepticism.
Tip Color:
Blue
Tentacle Color:
Green
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Cotton Candy Torch

Cotton Candy Torch

Pink, Blue, and sometimes purple tips on green tentacles. Tips colors can change or appear different depending on aquarium conditions and especially lighting color.
Tip Color:
Pink and Blue
Tentacle Color:
Green
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Dragon Soul Torch

Dragon Soul Torch

The name dragon soul gets applied to many variations of Indonesian torch coral but they share the common trait of purple tentacles featuring both gold and green coloration.
Tip Color:
Blue / Teal / Green
Tentacle Color:
Dark with gold and green accents
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Dragon Tamer Torch

Dragon Tamer Torch

Also called: B Grade Holy Grail

Similar to a dragon soul torch coral but with more green on the tentacles but not as much green as holy grail torch.
Tip Color:
Blue
Tentacle Color:
Gold, green, & purple
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Glitter Gail

Glitter Gail

The glitter pattern on torch is dark vs light. The glitter can fade over time but can also remain particularly on strongly patterned torches.
Tip Color:
Pink or blue
Tentacle Color:
Neon Green
Mouth Area Color:
Neon Green
Tentacle Pattern:
Glitter
Grim Reaper Torch

Grim Reaper Torch

Also called: Reaper

The Reaper Torch coral has a nice green at the end of the tentacle that fades into a purple base. The tips are light green to white. Affordable and fairly easy to find.
Tip Color:
Light green to white
Tentacle Color:
Purple at base fading into green ends
Mouth Area Color:
Purple
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Hellfire Torch

Hellfire Torch

Very Similar to a dragon soul but with more intense coloration and generally more gold. This name should be reserved for the brightest and most gold version of the dragon soul torch but is often misapplied to a large variety of gold torch corals or normal dragon soul torches.
Tip Color:
Blue / teal
Tentacle Color:
Gold, green, & purple
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Holy Grail Torch

Holy Grail Torch

Also called: Jolly Rancher

Holy grail torches all have gold and green tentacles and blue or purple tips. They vary quite a bit in the amount of gold on the tentacles. OG holy grail torches tend to have more gold while the variety mostly being imported today is neon green with relatively little gold coloration.
Tip Color:
Bright blue or purple
Tentacle Color:
Gold & neon green
Mouth Area Color:
Neon green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Jester Torch

Jester Torch

Also called: Jester Insanity

Jester Torches have the same green mouth and purple and gold tentacles as New York Knicks torches. The difference is that NY Knicks have bright blue tips and Jesters have either light blue or teal tips.
Tip Color:
Light blue or teal
Tentacle Color:
Gold & purple
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Joker Torch

Joker Torch

Also called: Miami Hurricane, Sweet Tooth, Alien Eye

Although it goes by many names its always stunning with its pink tips, purple stems, and neon green mouth. Rare torch that comes from Indo, Malaysia, and Australia!
Tip Color:
Pink
Tentacle Color:
Purple
Mouth Area Color:
Neon green
Tentacle Pattern:
Usually None
Joker Torch (OG Joker)

Joker Torch (OG Joker)

In the past this color variation was referred to as Joker instead of the current Joker which is pink tipped purple stemmed with green mouth. On the best colored OG Jokers the tip have incredible glow!
Tip Color:
Green
Tentacle Color:
Dark Purple
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Master Torch

Master Torch

Similar to a Holy Grail but with tip color of light blue or teal vs the Holy Grail Bright Blue or Purple. Master torches are either bright or dark green near the mouth and tentacle base.
Tip Color:
Light blue or teal
Tentacle Color:
Gold & green
Mouth Area Color:
Green (often dark green)
Tentacle Pattern:
None
NY Knicks Torch

NY Knicks Torch

Gorgeous variety with bright blue tips vs the teal or light blue tips of the Jester Torch. Comes in a range of color intensities with some having much more gold tentacles or more green at the mouth.
Tip Color:
Bright Blue
Tentacle Color:
Gold & Purple
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Orange Peel Torch Coral

Orange Peel Torch Coral

Although truly orange torch corals do not exist, this variety has a orange tint to the gold. Any torch that appears more orange than these is photographed with a bad setting or the photo was manipulated.
Tip Color:
Teal or light blue
Tentacle Color:
Orangish gold
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Rapunzel Torch

Rapunzel Torch

Rapunzel Torches have pink tips otherwise they are colored like dragon tames. This isn't a very common torch variety.
Tip Color:
Pink
Tentacle Color:
Gold, green, and purple
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Rasta Torch

Rasta Torch

Usually these come as tightly clustered heads from Australia. The larger easier to frag Indonesian variety often insn't as bright but grow faster and is easier to care for.
Tip Color:
Yellow and green
Tentacle Color:
Dark
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
Snake skin or none
Reverse Holy Grail Torch

Reverse Holy Grail Torch

Also called: Reverse Tiger Grail, Tiger Grail

Exceptional Bright! A tiger torch but with the bright colors of a holy grail torch coral.
Tip Color:
Blue
Tentacle Color:
Yellow and neon green
Mouth Area Color:
Neon green
Tentacle Pattern:
Lengthwise stripes
Sun Devil Torch

Sun Devil Torch

Gold to yellow tips, dark stems, and green mouth stripes. Similar coloration to the popular Joker torch buy with gold vs purple tips.
Tip Color:
Gold / yellow
Tentacle Color:
Dark
Mouth Area Color:
Green
Sun God Torch

Sun God Torch

Usually Malaysian in origin. Very intense gold tentacles especially on the shorter tentacle varieties.
Tip Color:
Light blue or teal
Tentacle Color:
Gold
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Tiger Knicks

Tiger Knicks

Also called: Mardi Gras, King Knicks

It has a uncommon copper gold color vs the standard gold color found on most torches. The mouth stripes are usually more visible on these torches than other torches.
Tip Color:
Bright Blue
Tentacle Color:
Copper & Purple
Mouth Area Color:
Neon Green
Tentacle Pattern:
None
Tiger Torch

Tiger Torch

Also called: Reverse Tiger

Tiger Torches have unique stripes running the length of the tentacles and their gold coloration concentrates at the base of the tentacles vs at tips like other torch corals.
Tip Color:
Blue or Teal
Tentacle Color:
Green, Purple, or Teal
Mouth Area Color:
Gold, Green, or Purple
Tentacle Pattern:
Lengthwise Stripes
Torch Of The Gods / God Torch

Torch Of The Gods / God Torch

Incredibly bright Malaysian torch. Imported mostly 2018-2022. Lucky Corals was the first retailer with this coral back in 2018!
Tip Color:
Blue / Teal
Tentacle Color:
Gold with an orange tint
Mouth Area Color:
Dark
Tentacle Pattern:
None

How to Identify Torch Corals

Torch coral varieties are best compared using several visible characteristics rather than a single feature or trade name. Tip color, tentacle color, mouth-area coloration and tentacle pattern can all help distinguish similar-looking varieties. Some Torch corals develop strongly contrasting tips and tentacles, while others are identified by color gradients, streaking or distinctive coloration around the mouth.

Trade names should not be treated as scientific classifications. Names such as Holy Grail, Dragon Soul and Hellfire can be used differently by coral vendors and reef hobbyists, and individual specimens sold under the same name may vary considerably. Aquarium lighting can also change the apparent coloration of fluorescent pigments, making photographs taken under different lighting conditions difficult to compare directly.

When identifying a Torch coral, compare several characteristics rather than relying on color alone. Tip shape and color, tentacle coloration, mouth-area color and overall pattern can provide useful clues. When available, photographs under both blue and whiter-spectrum lighting can make comparisons easier. Known lineage can provide additional information for named varieties, but appearance and trade name alone may not establish an exact identification.

Looking for Torch Corals?

Browse our Torch Corals for Sale to see currently available varieties and individually photographed corals. Our inventory changes regularly and may include popular varieties such as Holy Grail, Dragon Soul, Hellfire and other colorful Torch corals.