Feeding brain coral?

[stickman87]

So I just got this brain from my LFS and he said to feed it mysis shrimp at night.. He said I will see the sweepers out and havnt seen them come out yet I've had it for 3 days... Just wondering if it needs to be fed or not and also what type of brain it is as it was just marked brain coral??

 

[Mal11224]

That is a trachyphyllia coral or open brain coral. They do open up a little at night similar to a scoly. You can try to feed it some mysis or LRS at night but I think you can get away with reef roids or some kind of amino acid (reef energy). I have one. It is huge now and I don't spot feed it at all. I do, however, add reef roids and aminos from time to time for the entire tank.

 

[stickman87]

Ok I use reef chili now for everything else do I'll use that.. Thank you for the info I've never had one if these before so don't know much about care for them other than what I've read online

 

[Mal11224]

Ok I use reef chili now for everything else do I'll use that.. Thank you for the info I've never had one if these before so don't know much about care for them other than what I've read online

They are not difficult to keep, I keep mine in the corner of the tank of the sand bed in med light and flow. They don't really require spot feeding. I have two snowflake clowns who've hosted it. It is about 7 inches wide now. Just make sure it's now in direct light and flow and it should be okay. They also have to be handled with care as their soft tissue is very delicate.

 

[DSC reef]

Almost has a lobophyllia look to it like a carpet brain. Once it acclimates reef roids, LRS, reef nutrition are all good foods it will like.

 

[CindyKz]

That does look more like a lobophyllia to me too.

I keep my trachy in a shaded spot and in and area of lower flow. When I had it in higher light and flow it deflated. I spot feed twice a week or so...reef chili, oyster feast, finely chopped frozen mix. If yours isn't expanding the reef chili would be a good start - gently squirt a little at the coral and see if it inflates and/or reaches out tentacles

This is an extreme pic of mine with all it's tentacles extended...I hardly ever get it looking like this though!

 

[stickman87]

Ya i havnt seen mine expand at all maybe I'll try moving it out if the light a bit this is it with just the moonlight on... Looks the same during the day so I figured something is wrong

 

[stickman87]

Sorry for the pic.. That's the best my phone will do I'm low light without turning the flash on lol

 

[DSC reef]

That does look more like a lobophyllia to me too.

I keep my trachy in a shaded spot and in and area of lower flow. When I had it in higher light and flow it deflated. I spot feed twice a week or so...reef chili, oyster feast, finely chopped frozen mix. If yours isn't expanding the reef chili would be a good start - gently squirt a little at the coral and see if it inflates and/or reaches out tentacles

This is an extreme pic of mine with all it's tentacles extended...I hardly ever get it looking like this though!

Well done! That's a healthy trachyphillia

 

[CindyKz]

Well done! That's a healthy trachyphillia

Lol thanks! It doesn't look like this often.

 

[CindyKz]

Ya i havnt seen mine expand at all maybe I'll try moving it out if the light a bit this is it with just the moonlight on... Looks the same during the day so I figured something is wrong

I would try squirting it with a little reef chili and see how it responds before you start moving it around. They take a little while to settle in to a spot. If it won't eat, then move it. If you have to move it, give it a couple days to get comfortable. I moved mine e a lot when I first got it and almost killed it

 

[Gary Ellis]

Identify this one please. I was told he looked very hungry.