Blastomussa wellsi
Also known as Blasto, Large Polyp Blasto, Swollen Brain Coral, Pineapple Coral, Wellsi Blasto
SaltwaterCoral
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Plerogyridae
- Origin
- Native to Indo-Pacific reefs, first described from New Caledonia and found on sheltered slopes and turbid lagoons.
Overview
It thrives in a 75 liter or larger reef with low to moderate light and gentle flow, which suits its soft ballooning tissue. Keep reef chemistry steady at temperature 24 to 27 C, pH 8.1 to 8.4, and reef range calcium and alkalinity. It is a hardy, peaceful coral that does not sting neighbors, though feeding it mysis or small meaty foods a couple of times a week speeds its growth. Give it dim, calm placement and it will spread into a fuller cluster of polyps.
In the wild
A large polyp stony coral that grows as a cluster of fat, rounded polyps on short tubes, each fleshy polyp opening into a wide button up to about 1.5 cm across. Colors are often deep red, green, or a red body with green centers, and the polyps balloon out to hide the skeleton entirely. Its polyps are noticeably larger than those of the more common Blastomussa merletti. It comes from calmer, slightly murky water rather than bright reef crests.
Good to know
Blastomussa wellsi was described by Wijsman-Best in 1973 and has the largest polyps in its genus. Recent classifications place Blastomussa in the family Plerogyridae, though it was long grouped with the mussid and lobophylliid brain corals. It hosts zooxanthellae and feeds on plankton and small meaty foods.
Did you know
Its polyps inflate so fully that the hard skeleton disappears from view, and it is one of the few showy large polyp corals that actually prefers dim light and slow flow.
Common questions
What size tank does a Blastomussa wellsi need?
A Blastomussa wellsi needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Blastomussa wellsi need?
A Blastomussa wellsi is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Blastomussa wellsi get?
An adult Blastomussa wellsi reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
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