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FAQs about Trachyphylliid Coral Identification

Related Articles: Trachyphylliid Corals, Trachyphyllia Reproduction Report,

Related FAQs:  Open Brain Coral 1, Open Brain Coral 2, Trachyphylliid Behavior, Trachyphylliid Selection, Trachyphylliid Compatibility, Trachyphylliid Feeding, Trachyphylliid Systems, Trachyphylliid Disease, Trachyphylliid Reproduction, Stony Corals, Stonies 2, Stonies 3, LPS Stony Corals, Coral System Set-Up, Coral System Lighting, Stony Coral Selection, Coral PlacementFoods/Feeding/Nutrition, Disease/Health, PropagationStony Coral Behavior,

Family, genus... monotypic... all such open brains are Trachyphyllia geoffroyi. T. radiata and Wellsophyllia radiata are not valid

Coral ID 1/9/11
Hello, I was wondering what this specimen that came in on live rock is. I figured you guys were the ones to ask. Also does it require any special care? It is very attractive and considering I paid about six bucks for the rock it's on, I wanted to make sure I take care of it. I also sent a photo of it's placement in the tank to see what you recommend. Thanks for any insight.
Best regards
Frank Stubblefield
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/trachyphlliidae.htm and the linked files above. B> 

 

Identification of Coral  7/3/08 Hello Crew, thanks again for everything. I picked up this coral the other day, here are the best two I can take. http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/pedanpedan/Tanks%206-29-08/IMG_0714.jpg http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff274/pedanpedan/Tanks%206-29-08/IMG_0713.jpg <Hmm... I could be wrong, but to me it looks like a malnourished Trachyphylliidae.> Someone from Reef Central and my local club helped my identify it as Moseleya latistellata. <Um, no... not the right skeletal structure.> I can't seem to find any information on keeping it. I looked through Borneman's Aquarium Coral and couldn't find it there either. <Try looking under Trachyphylliidae or Trachyphyllia instead.> I would love any information you can help me out with over here. Right now I have it positioned on the bottom of the tank, the coral does seem to be producing small babies along the edge. Beautiful whatever it is though, with greens and purples and blues and pinks. Thanks ahead of time. Really just curious if the ID is correct and how to take care of it. <De nada. Again I suspect it's a Trachyphyllia sp. that has not been fed/cared for properly.> By the way if it has a common name I might have better luck searching with I would love to know that as well. <Trachyphyllia are often called "lobed brain coral" or "open brain coral."> Thanks Crew
Cheekymonkey
Sara M.>

  Me too. RMF.

Open Brain Coral... ID, hlth...  2/25/08 Greetings WWM, <<G'Morning. Andrew today>> I have acquired and open brain coral, I stuck him on the bottom of the tank in the substrate and he was all closed up and now he has puffed up like a balloon is this normal? My water perimeters are great any suggestions? Thanks from Colorado <<Species of coral? Would always prefer to know you exact water parameters. <<Sometimes, yes this is normal for an open brain to bloat up as its creating more surface area for feeding. Maybe provide a photograph to enable us to better look at the coral>> <<Hope this helps. A Nixon>>

Trachyphylliid system... a coral...   2/6/06 Hi , <TB> I was wondering and still am, is it ok to glue a rose coral to the live rock in my tank or does this animal have to be in the substrate? <If you are talking about a rose anemone, do not think of gluing it to anything. If not, then I do not know what coral you are asking about and will need a scientific ID.  Travis> thanks tb
Re: rose coral 02-07-06 Sorry about the ID on the coral , I was just relaying what the LFS gave me when I purchased it . Its an open brain of some sort I believe. <You are correct in your ID.  It is possible to epoxy this coral to a rock.  I personally would suggest against do so, at least until you have found it a location it likes. It is very important to find the area you think best suits the needs of the coral, allow it to settle in for a week, check to see how it is doing, and move again if need be. As for sand or rock base, stick with rock if possible as sand gets blown onto these corals and really irritates them. If you have strong lighting that may not be an option and you may have to place it in the substrate (sand), just make sure you don't let a sand sifting goby or other fish cover it. Travis> thanks tb

Quick Trachyphyllia/Wellsophyllia question 4/23/04  Greetings!  <cheers>  Thanks again for a wonderful site. Got a quick question for you that I can't seem to find in the FAQ's. I am researching my next coral purchase (almost bought it out of impulse, instead put it on hold and decided to research it.....lessons learned reading daily FAQ's).  <very good to hear :)> I am almost decided on getting an open brain coral. I am almost certain it is Trachyphyllia radiata.  <the genus is monotypic... all such open brains are Trachyphyllia geoffroyi. T. radiata and Wellsophyllia radiata are not valid>  It looks healthy but I will examine it again when I go back to the store. Here is my question. I do have bristle worms in my tank.  <good. Seriously. They are helpful in small quantities (excellent for DSB health). If they are in excess numbers (enough to harm coral), then there is a nutrient control problem in the tank (overfeeding, inadequate water flow, poor skimming, weak water changes, etc). But rest assured, they are wholly limited by food/nutrients and well within your control>  None of them are too large (largest I have seen is about 2" long). Will this coral be harmed by them if I put it on my sand substrate?  <the coral must be placed on the substrate to live/survive. Never place Trachyphyllia on rock>  I have the perfect location picked out already. Plenty of light, not a lot of current and away from other corals. The worms are my only concern at this time. Thanks -Ray  <Be sure to feed this coral several times weekly with very fine minced foods. Crucial for this hungry coral. Anthony>

Coral questions Hi, <Graham at your service.> I have a couple questions and can't find the answers in your FAQs.  The first one: I have read about open brains and different scientific names.  I have a Wellsophyllia; is this an open brain?   <Yes. Most likely your brain coral is in the genus Trachyphyllia.> Also, does my Wellsophyllia need to be fed, and if so what? <The Brain coral will benefit from regular feedings, however, it's not needed. If you wish to feed your coral, you can try to feed the coral at night when its feeder tentacles are out. Once these tentacles are out, you can place several small pieces of krill within these tentacles and the brain should consume the food. Silversides and lancefish may also work.> Another quick question.  What do you recommend to feed Fungia and what do you find to be the best method.   <If you feed your fish regularly, most likely the plate will be catching food particles. You can also place small pieces of meaty foods (krill, silversides, squid, etc.) within the plates tentacles. The tentacles should then push the food towards the central mouth where the food is then consumed.> Do frogspawn need to be fed as well or is good lighting sufficient (I have 1 250 watt metal halide and two 36 watt actinic bulbs in a 75 gallon corner tank).   <As I stated above, they will benefit from regular feedings, although it isn't necessary. If you choose to feed the coral, do so the same as you would as I described above with the plate coral.> Thanks!! <Take Care, Graham!> Andrew

Coral names, questions 6/1/04 I have a couple questions and can't find the answers in your FAQs.  The first one: I have read about open brains and different scientific names.  I have a Wellsophyllia; is this an open brain? <yes... but that scientific name is not valid anymore. All such brains are Trachyphyllia, a monospecific genus> Also, does my Wellsophyllia need to be fed, and if so what? <yes, feed finely minced meats of marine origin weekly or more often. Whole foods like Mysid shrimp and pacific plankton from your pet stores freezer are also quite good> Another quick question.  What do you recommend to feed Fungia and what do you find to be the best method.   <the same as above... and feed all such LPS corals by adding a little bit of food or juice to the tank 15 minutes prior to feeding to stimulate a feeding (tentacle) response> Do frogspawn need to be fed as well or is good lighting sufficient (I have 1 250 watt metal halide and two 36 watt actinic bulbs in a 75 gallon corner tank).   <they also need fed, like most all large polyped corals. They have these large polyps for a reason! Form follows function as they say. As a rule, most corals need to be target fed unless the fish/feeding load otherwise is very heavy (rare)> Thanks!! Andrew <best regards, Anthony>

Brain Coral Dear Bob, Steve or Anthony, <Steven this evening.> I have what a local dealer called "Wellsophyllia". Is this species kept the same as Lobophyllia? <No, you should be able to find your animal under the name Trachyphyllia radiata or T. geoffroyi.> What is the difference? I don't see it in any of my books. <Wellsophyllia is no longer a valid name and some people argue the same thing for the species name radiata. That maybe why you cannot find it.> I currently have it midway up in my tank laying flat on some live rock. Must they be in the substrate or is this ok? <No, much better/safer on the sand.> I have 275 watts of PC lighting in a 50 gal reef. Thanks for any advice, Mario <You can find excellent care instructions in "Book of Coral Propagation" by Anthony Calfo. Also in Eric Borneman's "Aquarium Corals" and Delbeek & Sprung's first book. In general, keep on sand, feed several times weekly, moderate lighting, similar to many LPS's. -Steven Pro>



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