From ReefPedia

[edit] Trachyphyllia Difficulty: Medium Light: Low to medium Aggression: Not aggressive Hardiness: Medium - avoid tissue damage Growth Rate: Slow Availability: Common

Metallic Green Open Brain Coral, Feeding tentacles extended

Introduction

Open Brain or Pacific Rose Coral is amongst the easiest to care for, most appropriate true or stony coral species available to marine aquarists. Given selection of initially healthy specimens, moderate light, water movement and decent water quality this it ranks near the top in terms of hardiness. Trachyphyllia has large polyps with a mantle that can be expanded more than three times the size of its skeleton during the day. Generally this is a nocturnal feeder, producing rows of tentacles to capture prey by the dark of night.

Common Names

• Open Brain
• Green Open Brain (GOB)
• Rose Coral

Scientific Names

Trachyphyllia Geoffreyi

Hardiness

Medium - This coral is prone to tissue damage, especially surrounding its skeleton. This tissue damage can lead to infections such as Brown Jelly Disease that may spread quickly and overtake the entire coral within a matter of days.

Flow

Low to Medium. Avoid direct strong flow to avoid tissue damage.

Lighting

Low-Medium. Reports of the coral bleaching under strong lighting. These corals do not require heavy lighting, especially when kept with occasional supplemental feedings.

Placement

Substrate. This coral should ALWAYS be placed on the substrate and never in the rockwork. Not only does Trachyphyllia prefer this placement, but it is also critical to avoid the coral falling from the rocks and becoming injured.

Feeding

The aquarist can target feed small bits of meaty foods (Brine Shrimp,Mysis Shrimp,Frozen Foods) occasionally. To target feed, wait until the coral's feeder polyps are extended shortly after lights out.

Supplemental feeding has proven helpful in helping an injured Trachyphyllia heal.

Propagation

Found widely in the Indian Ocean including the Red Sea, throughout the Australasian Archipelago, mainly on sandy to silty bottoms on coastal reefs. Reddish to brown founds found in murkier or deeper waters.

Predators

None specifically. Non reef-safe fish may have a hard time avouiding this one. Diadema setosum (Sea Urchins) can easily damage the mantle with their needles. Also, Sea Urchin was seen in coral eating.

FAQ

Commonly-asked questions regarding the coral.

Selection: It is imminently important to take your time in examining Trachyphyllia for purchase. The specimen's flesh should be entire, that is, covering the entire skeleton, top and bottom. Ones with missing flesh should be left, as they're notoriously susceptible to dying from Boring Green Algae.