They are found in shallow reefs where the most amount of sunlight is able to reach them, allowing for a higher rate of photosynthesis of the algae that lives in their tissues. Fire corals thrive in an environment with a high, strong current, and warm water. They are found in almost all places in the world, except for cold coastal regions. They are also abundant on upper reef slopes and in lagoons, and can occur down to 40 meters (131 ft) in depth from the surface.

Fire corals' predatory threats are mainly from fire worms, certain nudibranchs,