SeafanEmergencies

LPS

Open brain coral

Trachyphyllia geoffroyi

Also sold as Trachy

Open brain coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)
Photo: bondolo, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Type
LPS
Care level
Beginner to intermediate
Light
75 to 150 PAR (low)
Flow
Medium
With neighbours
Peaceful

Safety: handling open brain coral

Low hazard

How do you care for open brain coral?

Placement

Sand bed typical, check

Flow

Moderate

Feeding

Occasional feeding recommended typical, check

Growth

Slow

Water quality

Moderate

How much light does it need?

Sources put it at about 75 to 150 PAR, measured where the coral sits. No figure was published for this coral itself, so this is the usual range for its group. Start a new coral at the low end and raise it over weeks.

Moderate. typical, check

Which neighbours are safe?

Low to moderate

Several cm

Fish

Fish known to nip this group of corals, or small enough to be caught by it.

Take care (9)

Other corals

Corals that can harm this one if placed too close.

Take care (10)

  • Hammer coralHammer coral stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Frogspawn coralFrogspawn coral stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Torch coralTorch coral stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • GalaxeaGalaxea stings neighbours up to about 15 cm away at night; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Horn coralHorn coral stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Fire coral (not Acropora millepora)Fire coral (not Acropora millepora) stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Bubble tip anemoneBubble tip anemone stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Mini maxiMini maxi stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant)Carpet anemones (Haddon's, giant) stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.
  • Ritteri anemoneRitteri anemone stings neighbours; keep the open brain coral out of reach.

Invertebrates

Invertebrates that may nip corals when hungry.

Take care (3)

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

Pests, dips and quarantine

Few

General dip

No dip reliably kills pest eggs, so a dip lowers the risk rather than removing it. Inspect new frags with a torch after lights out, including the underside and the plug.

Sources

  1. Aqua SD retailer notes on Trachyphyllia and AlveoporaRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.

Last checked . How we check

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