These characteristics are typical of shallow, warm tropical waters. Feeding Corals obtain food in a variety of ways. Reef building corals rely on the photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae for nutrients. The zooxanthellae has a symbiotic relationship with the reef. Zooplankton is also a food source.
Corals are suspenision feeders.
They capture prey by nematocyst adhesion and mucus entrapment. The tentacles contain nematocysts and mesentarial filaments that sting prey and move it into the mouth. Coral trap prey in sticky mucus on their tentacles and move it to their mouth. The coral comes into contact with prey by the flow of water forcing it to come into contact with the tentacles and gravity cause heavy particles to fall into the tentacles. Once the food is moved to the mouth, it goes down the pharynx and to the gastrovascular cavity for digestion.