Open brain coral
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Also known as Trachyphyllia, Folded Brain Coral, Crater Coral
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
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Merulinidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific
Overview
The open brain coral is a solitary, free-living large polyp stony coral for the sandbed of a reef tank. It is easygoing, though still a step up from the easiest corals.
Did you know
A healthy open brain coral can slowly inflate, deflate and shift position on the sand to find the spot it likes best.
Caring for the open brain coral
Place the open brain coral directly on the sandbed, rather than on rough rock that can tear its fleshy tissue. Keep it away from corals with long sweepers. Give it low to moderate light, around 50 to 150 PAR, and low to moderate flow. Strong current keeps its balloon-like tissue from inflating.
It needs a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is an excellent feeder that grabs pellets, brine, mysis and krill, so target feed it once or twice a week. Because it is a single free-living polyp, it is not fragged the way branching corals are.
Good to know
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi inflates its tissue with water by day for photosynthesis and extends feeder tentacles at night. Because it lives loose on sand, its underside skeleton is delicate and easily damaged. It also goes by the names folded brain coral and crater coral.
In the wild
The open brain coral comes from the Indo-Pacific. There it rests unattached on soft, sandy lagoon floors.
Common questions
What size tank does an open brain coral need?
An open brain coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).
What temperature and pH does an open brain coral need?
An open brain coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
What does an open brain coral eat?
An open brain coral is an excellent feeder that grabs pellets, brine, mysis and krill. Target feed it once or twice a week.
How big does an open brain coral get?
An adult open brain coral reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
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