Care guide
Open brain coral
Species guidance · AI-assisted · Model audited · Revision 2
Choose an open sandbed position with low to moderate light and gentle, indirect flow. Keep sharp rock and stinging neighbors away from the inflated polyp. Offer occasional small meaty foods.
The open brain coral often lives unattached, with fleshy tissue over a solid skeleton. Fully extended tissue occupies more space than the exposed skeleton suggests.
Requirements
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Temperament
- Allow room for expansion and competition
Placement and environment
- Lighting
- Low to moderate light is a conservative start; acclimate slowly and watch for paling.
- Water flow
- Gentle indirect circulation should keep the coral clean without flattening or abrading the polyp.
- Placement
- Open sandbed. Room for full inflation. Away from sharp rock and aggressive neighbors.
- Substrate
- Provide a stable, open area of substrate with room for the polyp to inflate.
Feeding
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic; small meaty foods or appropriate coral pellets can be offered when tentacles are extended.
Acclimation and long-term care
- Warning signs
- Tissue injury from rock or strong current. Bleaching after excessive light. Food theft and damage by fish, shrimp, or crabs.
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.
- 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 — Trachyphyllia geoffroyi · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Trachyphyllia open brain · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Corals of the World — Trachyphyllia geoffroyi · Species factsheet, Characters and Habitat · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Trachyphyllia Coral Care · Placement, Water Flow and Feeding · Retrieved 2026-11-10
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