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Maze brain coral

Platygyra

Also known as Brain Worm Coral, Closed Brain Coral, Bowl Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Maze brain coral (Platygyra)
Nhobgood Nick Hobgood · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
9.8 in
25 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to the central Pacific

Overview

The maze brain coral is one of the hardier brain corals for a reef tank. It suits a newer reef keeper who is ready for a step up from the easiest corals.

Did you know

The maze brain coral's ridges are also its defense system. The whole network of connected valleys can extend stinging tentacles in unison at night. That turns what looks like a static dome into a coordinated wall of nematocysts.

Caring for the maze brain coral

Give the maze brain coral moderate light, roughly 100 to 150 PAR, with steady, moderately strong indirect flow. Current across the winding valleys seems to matter more to it than exact light intensity. Place it low to mid on stable rockwork in 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 tolerates a wider swing in nitrate than most LPS.

It is photosynthetic but also an active nighttime predator. Target feed micro-plankton or minced meaty foods two to three times a week, in the evening as the tentacles emerge. That feeding helps its color and growth.

After dark it extends sweeper tentacles well beyond its base to sting anything within reach. Give it real spacing, with clearance on every side, rather than tucking it in next to softer corals. It frags well by cutting through the skeleton between valleys. Each cut piece needs a clean, unbroken wall to recover reliably.

Good to know

Platygyra is a large polyp stony coral in the family Merulinidae. Long, winding meandroid valleys fuse neighboring corallites into a maze-like pattern, which is where the genus name and the common name come from. It produces noticeably more mucus than many other LPS when disturbed or stressed. Colonies grow as solid, boulder-like domes that can become one of the more substantial pieces in a mature reef tank.

In the wild

The maze brain coral grows across Indo-Pacific reefs, from the Red Sea to the central Pacific. It forms dome-shaped colonies on reef flats and slopes, over a wide range of depths.

Common questions

What size tank does a maze brain coral need?

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

What temperature and pH does a maze brain coral need?

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

What does a maze brain coral eat?

A maze brain coral is photosynthetic but also an active nighttime predator. Target feed it micro-plankton or minced meaty foods two to three times a week, in the evening.

How big does a maze brain coral get?

An adult maze brain coral reaches about 9.8 in (25 cm).

Related species