Brain Coral Terracotta-Tosca (LPS) (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)

Brain Coral Terracotta-Tosca (LPS) Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Name	Brain Coral Terracotta-Tosca (LPS)
Name Lat.	Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Family	Merulinid Corals
Family lat.	Merulinidae
Order	Stony Corals
Order lat.	Scleractinia
Origin	Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea
Diet	Autotrophic, planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-10 °KH
Lighting	High
Current	Moderate
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Solitary
Care Level	Easy
Life Span	N/A
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B
Metric Units
Size	< 20 cm
Temperature	24-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	< 8"
Temperature	75-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Trachyphyllia geoffroyi belongs to the group of LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia). Their range extends from the Red Sea over the Indo-Pacific region to the Great Barrier Reef (Australia). They live in sheltered places in shallow water at the reef edge or on sandy bottoms.

Maintenance

They should be positioned in a place with higher light intensity and moderate, alternating flow. Only lime-rich, heavy metal-free substrates should be used as substrate

Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. It is recommended that live stones be used to set up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. The lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
calcium content: 420-450 mg/l	Nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l
Magnesium content: 1.250-1.350 mg/l	phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l

Regular addition of trace elements, especially calcium and strontium, is recommended. For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention shall be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.

Diet

Zooxanthellae, which are unicellular symbiotic algae, live in their tissue and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (high light requirement). The zooxanthellae promote growth and provide additional food to the plankton and small particles that are collected in large quantities from the water current. Thus, in addition to the food produced in the aquarium during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercially available supplementary food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered regularly

Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should not be kept with fish that regard their polyps as food (e.g. angelfish or butterflyfish). They are well tolerated with other corals, but sufficient distance must be kept from cnidarians.

Reproduction and breeding

A sexual reproduction is not known. Propagation by budding is said to have succeeded occasionally in the aquarium.

Species protection

Species protection: WA Appendix II; EU Appendix B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe! Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Important

Trachyphyllia are slow growing corals that form colonies with a maximum of 10 relatively large polyps. They occur according to their origin in different colors (green, pink, blue, gray) mostly iridescent.

The additional illumination with actinic light (short-wave, violet-blue light) is very beneficial for their growth (zooxanthellae). A calcium reactor and a magnesium dosing pump are recommended for the necessary uniform supply of calcium carbonate and magnesium. Too high temperature, insufficient lighting or current as well as sudden change of water values can lead to tissue decay (RTN - rapid tissue necrosis). When purchasing, look for pressure marks or other tissue damage. Newly introduced animals must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium

If different species are kept together, make sure that fish and invertebrates match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the ecological needs of all species kept together. Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Werner Winter

Source: FOSSÁ & NILSEN (1995): Korallenriff-Aquarium Bd. 4, Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch