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
Blastomussa wellsi is a hardy large polyp stony coral for the calm, dim parts of a reef tank. It is an easy coral to keep.
Did you know
The polyps of Blastomussa wellsi inflate so fully that the hard skeleton disappears from view. All you see is a cluster of fleshy buttons, often deep red, green, or red with green centers.
Caring for the Blastomussa wellsi
Give Blastomussa wellsi low to moderate light and gentle flow, which suit its soft, ballooning tissue. It is one of the few showy large polyp corals that actually prefers dim light and slow flow. In a dim, calm spot it will spread into a fuller cluster of polyps.
Keep it in a reef of at least 20 gal (75 L) with steady chemistry. Hold it at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4, with reef range calcium and alkalinity.
It hosts zooxanthellae, and it also feeds on plankton and small meaty foods. Offering mysis or other small meaty foods a couple of times a week speeds its growth. It is a hardy, peaceful coral that does not sting its neighbors.
Good to know
Blastomussa wellsi was described by Wijsman-Best in 1973. Its polyps are the largest in its genus, noticeably larger than those of the more common Blastomussa merletti. Each fat, rounded polyp sits on a short tube and opens into a wide button up to about 1.5 cm across. Recent classifications place Blastomussa in the family Plerogyridae, though it was long grouped with the mussid and lobophylliid brain corals.
In the wild
Blastomussa wellsi is native to Indo-Pacific reefs and was first described from New Caledonia. It lives on sheltered slopes and in turbid lagoons, in calmer, slightly murky water rather than on bright reef crests.
Common questions
What size tank does a Blastomussa wellsi need?
A Blastomussa wellsi needs at least 20 gal (75 L).
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.
What does a Blastomussa wellsi eat?
Blastomussa wellsi hosts zooxanthellae and also feeds on plankton and small meaty foods. Mysis or other small meaty foods a couple of times a week speed its growth.
How big does a Blastomussa wellsi get?
An adult Blastomussa wellsi reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
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