my brain is massive...

[polarpooch]

at least this one is...wish I could fix my focus problem...but I'm so happy this guy is growing He was in pretty bad shape when I got him from a larger chain pet store that shall remain nameless...

 

[sid2003]

I love brain corals. I plan on getting one in the future. Can you tell me about them? Thanks-Sid

 

[polarpooch]

Well, they're fairly hardy (this thing was absent most color and very shrivled when I got it), need PC or better lighting. Good water conditions, though some have been known to do well in slimy water, or so I'm told. They feed via small tentacles, and have been known to consume whole (small) fish. I feed mine a spray of brine, or finely chopped krill. I use C-Balance every day, with some additional supplements.
I have the Julian Sprung coral book and Aquarium Corals for references on them....
Here's a better focus pic of the feeder tentacles:

 

[polarpooch]

Oh I couldn't resist one more...I don't know what I'm happier about...my brain's continued recovery, or my new Nikon camera (which I'm still trying to figure out)

 

[aggie05]

I am trying to get mine to grow out like yours and then I will move it into my twenty. I have been feeding it twice a week. Is there anything else I can do to speed up the process?

 

[polarpooch]

I don't know what you are doing now for yours, so I can't say. Mine is under 220w PC +a 55w actinic (not a huge amount of light) on a 75E. I use C-Balance daily and some other addititives in small amounts (iron, strontium). I feed mine about twice a week, too.

 

[aarone]

Nice brain! I wanted to get one from a large pet store chain that shall remain nameless as well

 

[doodle1800]

Can you guys explain how you feed these and other corals?

 

[polarpooch]

waterfaller:
NICE colors on yours. Very dark!
doodle:
Mostly they filter feed. A couple of times a week, I spray brine or finely chopped krill over mine when his tentacles are out...I use a turkey baster.

 

[doodle1800]

well established aquarium for these guys? 6 months? A year? More?

 

[bdhough]

No they don't need well established aquariums. If you want them to grow alot feed them constanly. Chunk size stuff like shrimp, squid, clams, etc. I raised mine back to health on mysis shrimp and a tweezer....

 

[ozadars]

Waterfaller, what kind of brain is this? I love him

 

[ffishermen]

great looking brain there polar

 

[mebigloser]

Just got this one, has a little damage on the top. He is starting to heal very well.

 

[polarpooch]

why thank you, ffishermen!
mebigloser?! Can I call you MBL, instead? Damage doesn't look too bad on that brain. Do you have more than one?
waterfaller1--My coral book says that the classification is either Trachyphyllia Geoffroyi or Trachyphyllia Radiata. Radiata supposedly has "fused" folds (like mine), Geoffroyi has unfused folds...
So going by that and your pic, I'd guess Geoffroyi.
BTW, the bottom of my brain is flat...so maybe that distinction works, too!

 

[mebigloser]

Yep....here's the other one.

 

[broomer5]

Nice brains polarpooch and mebigloser !!
I'm a big fan of these corals too, although I only keep one.
verycoolcoral

 

[mebigloser]

Thanks Broomer5,
I wish I could find a darker red one, maybe this one will darken with age.

 

[jonthefb]

awesome shots polar pooch...what type of cam are you using???
good luck
jon

 

[broomer5]

mebigloser
If you care for it, provide sufficient lighting, excellent tankwater conditions and feed it - it may darken up a deeper red.
Here's a pic of two red open brains.
I still have one.
The other one got infected from ripped tissue and died.
Here's how they looked couple years ago.