Care guide
Lobed brain coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 3
Start low in the tank under subdued light with gentle, indirect flow. Leave room for the fleshy lobes to inflate and keep nearby corals clear of nighttime stings. Offer small meaty foods occasionally.
Thick, fleshy polyps sit over skeletal cups or irregular valleys. Wild colonies can form broad mounds on upper reef slopes.
Requirements
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Can damage nearby corals.
- Reef compatibility
- Conditional in a mixed reef. Leave space around the expanded colony and check nearby corals after dark for stinging damage.
- Adult size
- Wild colonies can exceed five metres across. In an aquarium, allow room for the individual colony to expand and grow.
Water conditions
- Temperature
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for 75–80 °F.
- Salinity
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for 1.024–1.026 specific gravity.
- pH
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for pH 8.1–8.4.
- Alkalinity
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for 8–9.5 dKH alkalinity.
- Calcium
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for 420–440 ppm calcium.
- Magnesium
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, aim for 1,260–1,350 ppm magnesium.
- Nitrate
- Around 5–10 ppm is a practical captive reference for large-polyp stony corals. Track nitrate and phosphate alongside tissue condition.
- Phosphate
- For the Aussie Molten Lobo form, keep phosphate below 0.10 ppm. Watch for changes in tissue condition.
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Start with subdued light. Typical captive Lobophyllia can do well at 100 µmol photons/m²/s or less. Adjust exposure gradually and watch how the tissue expands.
- PAR
- Start at or below 100 µmol photons/m²/s for typical captive Lobophyllia. The separate 150–250 µmol photons/m²/s range applies to the Aussie Molten Lobo form. Adjust gradually and watch tissue expansion.
- Water flow
- Use gentle to moderate, indirect current that clears waste. Tissue that stays tight against the skeleton or recedes on the side facing the pump can signal too much direct flow.
- Placement
- Place low in the display with a stable base and an open area for tissue expansion. Keep pointed rock clear of the flesh.
- Clearance
- Leave open space beyond the inflated edge. At night, the coral can extend digestive filaments onto nearby corals.
- Habitat
- Upper reef slopes, where colonies sometimes form large stands.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Light provides much of its energy. Captive colonies also capture small frozen marine foods or sinking coral foods.
- Feeding frequency
- Offer occasional supplemental food when the polyps are receptive. The coral can also catch passing food.
Compatibility
- Compatibility
- Keep neighboring corals clear of the expanded colony. Check their tissue after dark for signs of stinging.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Acclimation
- Start under reduced light and increase exposure gradually as the coral settles.
- Handling
- Support the skeleton and keep inflated tissue clear of sharp surfaces when moving the colony.
- Warning signs
- Persistent retraction, recession facing the current, or damage to adjacent corals warrants a placement and water-quality check.
- Warnings
- Observe nighttime interactions and protect inflated tissue from sharp rock and strong direct current.
- Growth
- Captive colonies grow slowly.
- Propagation
- Distinct polyps can separate as the colony grows. Allow time for separated polyps to grow out.
Information gaps
- Lifespan · 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.
- Minimum tank size · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Social grouping · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Compatibility concerns · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
Sources
- World Register of Marine Species — Lobophyllia hemprichii · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Lobophyllia · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Corals of the World — Lobophyllia hemprichii · Species factsheet, Characters and Habitat · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Lobophyllia Coral Care · Lighting, Water Flow, Coral Aggression, Chemistry, Feeding and Propagation · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Vivid Aquariums — Aussie Molten Lobo care by Dave Burr · Water Conditions and Water Chemistry. Captive targets published for the supplier’s Aussie Molten Lobo listing. Lighting & Flow Requirements gives its separate PAR recommendation. · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Top Shelf Aquatics — Rainbow Lobophyllia care and placement · Care & Placement. Gradual light acclimation and skeleton support during handling for the supplier’s Lobophyllia hemprichii. · Retrieved 2026-11-10
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