Branching Lobophyllia (Brain Root Coral)
Looking for a fleshy, show-stopping Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral that boasts some of the wildest colour combinations in the ocean? The Branching Lobophyllia is a true collector's piece that adds incredible texture and massive visual weight to your reef.
Unlike massive or encrusting brain corals, the "Branching" variety grows distinct, individual stalks topped with gigantic, ultra-fleshy heads. During the day, these heads swell up to enormous sizes, displaying thick, lobed tissue that comes in mind-bending, contrasting colours—from metallic greens and deep purples to fiery reds and multi-coloured "rainbow" morphs. At night, this coral completely transforms, retracting its day-flesh and sending out translucent feeding tentacles to catch passing prey.
At UKReef Hampshire, we love Branching Lobos because their distinct structure makes them much easier to place in your aquascape than standard brain corals, and they are incredibly rewarding to feed!
Quick Care Guide:
Care Level: Moderate. Like all stony corals, they require a mature tank with stable Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium to maintain and grow their heavy skeletal structure.
Temperament: Aggressive. Do not let their slow-moving daytime appearance fool you! At night, they can deploy long sweeper tentacles that pack a nasty sting. Give them a wide perimeter away from other corals.
Placement: Bottom. They do best placed directly on the sandbed or on flat, lower-level rockwork. Make sure you leave plenty of room around them, as they will double in size when fully inflated during the day.
Lighting: Low to Moderate. They are easily stressed by intense lighting. If placed too high under strong reef LEDs, their colors will quickly bleach and they will refuse to inflate. Keep them shaded or in the lower third of the tank.
Water Flow: Low to Moderate. A gentle, indirect breeze is all they need. ⚠️ Important: If the flow is too strong, the water will constantly push the heavy, inflated flesh against the coral's own razor-sharp internal skeleton, causing tissue tearing and severe infection.
Feeding: Highly Recommended. Lobophyllia are voracious, incredibly greedy eaters! Turn off your wavemakers 1-2 times a week and target-feed them meaty foods like Mysis shrimp or high-quality LPS pellets. Watching them slowly ingest their food is one of the coolest things to observe in a reef tank!