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Brain coral (Favia)

Favia

Also known as Moon Coral, Pineapple Coral, Favites, Closed Brain Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Brain coral (Favia) (Favia)
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Caribbean

Overview

The brain coral (Favia) is an aggressive, domed large polyp stony coral for the lower part of a reef tank. It is a good step up from the easiest corals.

Did you know

A brain coral that looks completely peaceful by day can quietly reach out at night and burn a neighbor several inches away.

Caring for the brain coral (Favia)

Give the brain coral (Favia) low to moderate light, around 50 to 150 PAR, with moderate, indirect flow. Place it on the sandbed or lower rockwork with room to spare, and acclimate it slowly to the light. It needs a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L).

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is photosynthetic but feeds actively at night, extending feeder tentacles after dark. It responds well to small meaty foods once or twice a week while the tentacles are out.

Despite looking like a harmless dome, it is moderately to highly aggressive. After lights out it sends out stinging sweeper tentacles, especially at nearby SPS. Leave 4 to 6 inches of clearance on all sides. Propagate it by cutting the skeleton.

Good to know

Favia belongs to the family Merulinidae, and it is often hard to tell apart from the closely related Favites. The two differ mainly in whether neighboring corallites share walls. The brain coral (Favia) also goes by moon coral, pineapple coral and closed brain coral.

In the wild

Favia brain corals grow as massive, boulder-forming colonies on reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean. Their surface carries a maze or honeycomb pattern of ridges and valleys.

Common questions

What size tank does a brain coral (Favia) need?

A brain coral (Favia) needs at least 20 gal (75 L).

What temperature and pH does a brain coral (Favia) need?

A brain coral (Favia) is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a brain coral (Favia) eat?

A brain coral (Favia) is photosynthetic, but it also feeds actively at night. Offer small meaty foods once or twice a week while its tentacles are out.

How big does a brain coral (Favia) get?

An adult brain coral (Favia) reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species