Care guide
Closed brain coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Start this brain coral in low to moderate light and indirect flow. Keep the surface clear of sediment and leave room for nighttime stings.
This coral used to be named Favia speciosa. Several related brain corals are still sold as Favia.
Requirements
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Allow generous clearance from neighboring livestock
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Low to moderate light is a conservative starting point; this trade group contains several genera.
- Water flow
- Low to moderate indirect flow should clear debris while allowing fleshy polyps to expand.
- Placement
- Lower rockwork or a stable low platform. Space beyond the growing edge for nighttime aggression. Room for encrusting or rounded growth.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; small meaty foods or appropriate coral foods can be offered when feeding tentacles appear.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Trade names do not establish a precise genus. Nighttime aggression. Sediment accumulation and light overexposure.
Information gaps
- pH · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- PAR · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Growth · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Calcium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Habitat · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Handling · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Salinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Warnings · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Adult size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Clearance · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Magnesium · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Phosphate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Predation concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Alkalinity · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Reef compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Acclimation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Minimum tank size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperature · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Feeding frequency · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
Sources
- World Register of Marine Species — Dipsastraea speciosa · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Favia and related brain corals · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Tidal Gardens — Coral aggression and placement · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Tidal Gardens — Favia Coral Care · Trade-name usage, Lighting, Water Flow and Feeding · Retrieved 2026-11-10
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