Why is my Lobophyllia coral shrinking and not opening?

This is usually caused by incorrect water flow (too much direct current), inadequate or excessive lighting, or fluctuating water parameters, particularly low alkalinity. Check your water chemistry and try moving the coral to a gentler flow area.

Can I place my Lobophyllia on the sand bed?

Yes, the sand bed is often the ideal placement for Lobophyllia. It provides a stable base, keeps them in a lower flow and moderate light area, and prevents them from falling off rockwork and damaging their tissue.

When is the best time to feed my Lobo?

The best time is usually an hour or two after the main tank lights have turned off. The coral will extend its feeding tentacles at this time. However, you can often train them to feed during the day by gently wafting food juice over them to stimulate a feeding response.

How much space does a Lobophyllia need away from other corals?

You should leave at least 15 centimetres (6 inches) of clearance between a Lobophyllia and any neighbouring corals. They extend sweeper tentacles at night that can severely sting and kill other corals that are too close.

Why is the tissue receding and showing the white skeleton on my Lobophyllia?

Tissue recession can be caused by a variety of factors including physical damage, being stung by another coral, starvation, or poor water quality (especially unstable KH or calcium levels). Assess the surrounding environment and ensure no fish or shrimp are picking at it.

MarineCoralsIntermediate

Lobophyllia

Lobophyllia spp.

A spectacular, fleshy large-polyp stony (LPS) coral known for its incredibly vibrant colours, lobed textures, and aggressive nocturnal feeding behaviour.

List this species for sale Find Lobophyllia near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 24 – 27 °C
pH range: 8.1 – 8.4
Hardness: 8 – 12 dGH
Salinity: 1.023 – 1.026 SG
Adult size: 10 – 30 cm
Standard reef tank: 110 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 50 years
Diet: Photosynthetic and carnivorous; requires targeted feedings of meaty marine foods.
Water flow: Low to moderate
Preferred setup: Stable reef environment with clear space around the coral to prevent stinging neighbours.

About the Lobophyllia

Lobophyllia species, commonly known as Lobed Brain Corals or Open Brain Corals, are among the most visually spectacular LPS corals available in the marine hobby. They form massive, meandroid or phaceloid colonies with thick, fleshy polyps that can expand significantly during the day to absorb light. Found in a staggering array of colours—including neon reds, metallic greens, deep purples, and oranges, often in marbled or contrasting patterns—they are highly sought after by reef enthusiasts. While relatively undemanding regarding light and flow, their heavy tissue requires careful handling to prevent tearing on the sharp underlying septa.

Find Lobophyllia

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Lobophyllia against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Lobophyllia comes from

Native range

Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef

Countries / regions

Australia, Indonesia, Fiji, Egypt, Philippines

Habitat

Inhabits shallow reef slopes, back-reef margins, and protected lagoons, often found growing in large hemispherical domes.

Widespread across the tropical Indo-Pacific, adapting to varied lighting and flow conditions in the wild.

Similar species

Symphyllia Brain Coral
Symphyllia spp.
Acanthastrea Coral
Micromussa lordhowensis
Trachyphyllia Brain Coral
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Scolymia Coral
Homophyllia australis

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Ocellaris Clownfish
Amphiprion ocellaris
Peaceful reef fish that completely ignore the coral, occupying higher areas of the water column.
Great
Yellow Tang
Zebrasoma flavescens
Excellent herbivores that help keep nuisance algae off the coral's skeleton without harming the fleshy polyps.
Great
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Generally reef safe and beneficial for tank hygiene, though care should be taken to ensure they do not steal food directly from the coral's mouth.
Great
Coral Beauty Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosa
Dwarf angelfish are notorious for occasionally deciding to nip at large, fleshy LPS corals, which can cause the coral to retract permanently.
Compatible with caution
Hammer Coral
Euphyllia ancora
Both possess potent sweeper tentacles; they must be placed far apart to prevent chemical and physical warfare.
Compatible with caution
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Chaetodon lunula
Obligate or opportunistic corallivores that will quickly decimate the fleshy tissue of a Lobophyllia.
Not recommended
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
While useful for Aiptasia control, they frequently turn rogue and pick at the soft tissue of open brain corals.
Not recommended

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Lobophyllia listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Lobophyllia in this market yet.

Looking for Lobophyllia?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Lobophyllia listings Post a wanted request