Brain Coral Care: Lobophyllia, Trachyphyllia, and Friends

Brain Corals: The Chunky Legends of the LPS World

Brain corals don't get the Instagram love that Euphyllia do, but they're some of the hardiest, most satisfying LPS to keep. A big puffed-up brain coral has serious tank presence that photos don't quite capture.

The Main Players

Lobophyllia (Lobo Brain)

• Large, fleshy polyps with visible valleys and ridges — the classic "brain" look
• Comes in reds, greens, oranges, and some gorgeous multicolour variants
• Very hardy. Tolerates a wide parameter range

Trachyphyllia (Open Brain / Folded Brain)

• Sits on the sandbed — free-living coral, this placement is important
• Incredibly fleshy, can inflate to double its skeleton size
• Stunning colours — rainbow trachys are some of the most beautiful LPS in the hobby

Favites / Favia

• Smaller polyps in a honeycomb pattern
• Sometimes called "war corals" because of their sweeper tentacles
• Very hardy. Great fillers for rock gaps

Symphyllia (Closed Brain)

• Similar to Lobophyllia but with narrower valleys
• Deep, vivid colours — especially reds
• Hardy and underrated

Care Requirements

Light: Low to moderate. 50–120 PAR is the sweet spot. Trachyphyllia in particular should be on the sandbed where light is naturally lower.

Flow: Low. Brain corals like calm water. Too much flow prevents them from inflating properly.

Feeding: Brain corals are massive feeders. A Trachyphyllia can take whole mysis shrimp, pieces of prawn, even small chunks of silverside. Feed 2–3 times per week for best results.

Placement: Trachyphyllia MUST go on the sandbed — never wedged into rockwork. Their underside is delicate. Lobophyllia are more flexible and can go on rock shelves. Give all brain corals room to inflate.

Common Mistakes

• Putting Trachyphyllia on rock: Sandbed only — the flat underside is not designed for rough surfaces
• Too much flow: If the coral looks deflated, cut the flow
• Not feeding enough: These are hungry corals. Target feed them, don't rely on broadcast alone
• Ignoring sweepers: Favites can send out surprisingly long sweeper tentacles at night

You can find brain corals from UK sellers at very reasonable prices. A nice Lobophyllia frag won't set you back much, and it'll be a centrepiece for years.