Gunshot Trachyphyllia (30)

Gunshot Trachyphyllia Coral Care | The Happy Reef

Gunshot Trachyphyllia is a striking open brain coral with a deep red colour concentrated around the mouth and spreading outwards through the surrounding tissue ? giving this particular morph its "Gunshot" name. When fully inflated, Trachyphyllia develops a large, fleshy mantle that can look dramatically different from the relatively compact skeleton underneath.

Trachyphyllia is a free-living LPS coral rather than an encrusting species. In nature it is typically found resting on soft substrates, which is why the sandbed is normally the best position for it in an aquarium. Its fleshy underside can be damaged if repeatedly inflated against sharp rockwork.

Scientific Name: Trachyphyllia geoffroyi

PAR: 75?150

Flow: Low to moderate. Gentle, indirect movement is ideal. Avoid strong direct flow that prevents the fleshy mantle from fully expanding or causes it to rub against its skeleton.

Placement: Sandbed

Feeding: Beneficial. Although photosynthetic, Trachyphyllia are enthusiastic feeders and can take surprisingly substantial meaty foods. Occasional target feeding with mysis, finely chopped seafood or suitable LPS foods can support growth and condition. Feed when the feeding response is visible rather than forcing food into a closed mouth.

Care Notes: Give it plenty of room to inflate and avoid sharp rockwork around the fleshy mantle. A healthy Trachy can expand considerably during the day and retract dramatically at night. Stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium are important, and specimens should be acclimated gradually to significantly brighter lighting.