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Coral Guide |  |
Family: Faviidae (Stony Corals)
Habitat: Frequently seen in a variety of depths and conditions.
Light: Medium Water Flow: High Space: 50+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: These corals have zooxanthellae which provide much of their nutrition. It is believed they also feed on microzooplankton and directly absorb some nutrients from the water.
Natural History: Favia includes species that are the most prolific and common corals in the oceans. Their skeleton is boulder-like and spherical. Polyp extension by day generally obscures the spherical skeleton. Feeding tentacles emerge at night and their polyps swell by day enough to hide the skeleton. Favia polyps can be distinguished from Favites by having figure-8 shapes when they divide.
Husbandry: Brain Corals typically prefer bright light and moderate water flow to allow for full polyp expansion. Their sweeper tentacles make placement away from other corals important. They benefit from occasional nightly planktonic feedings. Large colonies can grow to over a meter in diameter.
AKA: Moon Coral, Pineapple Coral, Closed Brain Coral, Star Coral