Lobed Brain Corals
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
Careful placement is important for this nonaggressive species. Janine Cairns-Michael
[edit] Overview
Impressive additions to the reef aquarium, Lobophyllia species are characterized by deep grooves surrounded by thick fleshy tissue. Tentacles are usually hidden out of sight on the inner margins of the fleshy edges and emerge only at night when food is offered. The underlying skeleton is relatively massive; the coral tissue is usually a dark shade of green, brown, bronze, or red, with the papillae on the surface a lighter contrasting color.
Family: Mussidae
Other common name(s):
- Open Brain Corals
Native range:
Maximum length: 100 cm (39 in)
Maximum height: 100 cm (39 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 190 L (50 gal)
Lighting: Tolerant of most lighting conditions, but prefer bright.
Water: Marine 24 °C (297 K, 75 °F) - 28 °C (301 K, 82 °F)
[edit] Feeding
Zooxanthellate, but must be fed; will eat a lot of food if it is offered.
[edit] Aquarium Compatibility
Good reef aquarium animals; not aggressive or terribly demanding of water conditions.
[edit] Special Care
Prefer low to moderate currents. Do not fare well in coral-to-coral interactions, so care should be taken to place them in situations that will not result in contact with other corals when they expand significantly at night.
| Common name | Lobed Brain Corals +, and Open Brain Corals + |
| Family | Mussidae + |
| Genus | Lobophyllia + |
| Image credit | JCM + |
| Lighting | Tolerant of most lighting conditions, but prefer bright. + |
| Maximum height | 39 in + |
| Maximum length | 39 in + |
| Minimum aquarium size | 50 gal + |
| Native range | Indo-Pacific + |
| Reference | A PocketExpert Guide to Marine Invertebrates + |
| Specific name | spp. + |
| Text credit | RLS + |
| Water max temp | 301 K (28 °C, 82 °F) + |
| Water min temp | 297 K (24 °C, 75 °F) + |
| Water type | Marine + |