Brain Coral

About

A large polyp stony coral with a classic meandering ridge-and-valley structure, Dipsastraea amicorum belongs to a genus that was for many years grouped under the older name Favia, so you may still see it sold under that label in some shops. The surface texture is immediately recognizable. Tight, fleshy corallites arranged in the winding labyrinthine pattern that gives these corals their common association with brain corals, though true brain corals belong to different genera. In the wild it is distributed broadly across Indo-Pacific reef systems, typically found at low to mid depths where light and water movement are moderate rather than intense. Coloration varies quite a bit between specimens, running from olive and tan through yellow and brown, sometimes with contrasting polyp mouths. It extends modest feeding tentacles after dark, and like most LPS corals it will benefit from occasional target feeding with meaty foods. In the aquarium it generally tolerates standard reef conditions without demanding the exacting precision that some SPS corals require, making it a reasonable choice for a hobbyist who is past the beginner stage and comfortable with consistent water quality maintenance. Give it space from neighbors, as it can produce sweeper tentacles that sting nearby corals.