UFO Trachyphyllia

The Folded Brain Coral, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi, is a classic large-polyp stony coral that has been a mainstay in the hobby for decades. It is a free-living coral, meaning it doesn’t encrust on rockwork but instead lives unattached on the sandbed. The UFO morph is distinguished by its exceptionally vibrant, concentric rings of colour that radiate out from the coral’s mouths. During the day, a healthy Trachyphyllia will inflate its tissue to many times the size of its skeleton, creating a soft, fleshy appearance. This inflation really shows off the layers of colour that make the UFO variant so distinct. In a home reef, it typically starts with a figure-eight shape and can slowly grow, adding new mouths and folding in on itself over many years. At night, it may extend short sweeper tentacles to feed and defend its space. Care for Trachyphyllia is straightforward in a stable reef aquarium. It requires a spot on the sandbed with low to moderate lighting, in the 75 to 150 PAR range. Direct, high light can cause it to lose colour or recede. Water flow should be gentle and indirect, just enough to keep the surface clear of detritus without blasting the delicate tissue. While photosynthetic, it benefits greatly from occasional target feeding with meaty foods. For best health, maintain stable water parameters with calcium around 420-440 ppm, alkalinity at 8-9 dKH, and magnesium at 1300-1400. Because it can be aggressive towards its neighbours, be sure to give it a wide berth of six inches or more from other corals. As a solitary, non-encrusting coral, the Trachyphyllia is an ideal candidate for a feature spot on the sandbed of a mature reef tank. It doesn't spread uncontrollably and its slow growth makes it a predictable and rewarding long-term resident. Its placement needs are simple, making it easy to accommodate as long as it has personal space. This is a WYSIWYG item, so you'll receive the exact specimen pictured.