Rainbow Dome Open Brain – Trachyphyllia geoffroyi

Open Brain Corals are one of the more common corals kept in aquaria, and are a good choice for those just getting started with stony corals. They are usually found with green and/or red coloration with the more common coloration being shades of green. They have a hard skeleton that is covered with fleshy tissues that expand and make the coral look much larger then they actually are. The shape is generally large-lobed and may be flat or dome-shaped. Round or figure-eight-shaped corals are also common.

Care must be taken when placing the coral in the aquarium so that nothing will damage the soft tissue. When placing them in the aquarium place them on the substrate or mid-way in the aquarium where they will receive the most direct light. Open Brain Corals can become shocked and potentially bleached (a rapid die-off of the algae in its tissue) after rapid changes in the intensity of its lighting. Always acclimate carefully, especially if increasing the light intensity.

Most of the coral’s nutrients come from the symbiotic algaes that benefit from this lighting, but supplemental feedings are also beneficial. Open Brain Corals will extend long feeder tentacles at night and should be target fed about an hour after the lighting is off. Though they generally prefer moderate to high flow, decrease the flow while feeding to give the coral a chance to feed. Some Trachyphyllia have been known to capture larger meaty foods including small fish and invertebrates.

Trachyphyllia corals is synonymous with Wellsophyllia coral. Wellsophyllia was formerly a seperate genus but has since been reclassified into the Trachyphyllia genus and is considered a Trachyphyllia variation.