An open brain coral is a single free-living animal that sits on the sand and inflates into a folded, fleshy dome two or three times the size of its skeleton. Trachyphyllia geoffroyi is the classic hourglass-shaped one; the round, ruffled “Wellsophyllia” of the trade is a form of the same animal, and our listings carry both names so you know exactly what you are getting. Reds, pinks and metallic greens in one polyp — under blue light an open brain reads from across the room.
Care at a glance
| Light (PAR) | 50–150 |
|---|---|
| Flow | Low to moderate |
| Placement | Open sand bed — never wedged into rockwork |
| Feeding | Recommended — meaty foods 2–3 times per week, target-fed |
| Aggression | Low |
| Difficulty | Beginner to intermediate |
The placement rule is the whole game. An open brain inflates far beyond its skeleton, and flesh pressed against rock tears when the animal deflates at night. Give it open sand and it will do the rest. Feed it in the evening as the feeder tentacles come up, and a healthy trachy visibly grows — it is one of the most rewarding LPS to actually watch.
Like a scoly, an open brain is one polyp, one animal — it will not spread into a colony, so the WYSIWYG photo is the entire purchase decision. The photo is the exact animal.
Open brains in stock now
7 in stock right now
Lemon Lime Trachyphyllia$99.99Only 1 availableView this coral →
WYSIWYG Trachyphyllia Open Brain Coral$199.00View this coral →
WYSIWYG Wellsophyllia Brain Coral (4") – Conditioned in Key West$299.00Only 1 availableView this coral →
WYSIWYG Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia Open Brain Coral$300.00Only 1 availableView this coral →
WYSIWYG Rare Pink Wellsophyllia (Trachyphyllia radiata)$325.00Only 1 availableView this coral →
WYSIWYG Rainbow Wellsophyllia (Trachyphyllia radiata)$349.99Only 1 availableView this coral →
WYSIWYG Wellsophyllia Open Brain Coral$350.00Only 1 availableView this coral →One thing to know before you order: shipping and packing are charged by the box, not by the coral. A box holds several corals for the same $15 packing fee and the same overnight ride, Florida orders under 6 lb ship overnight for a flat $30, and livestock orders over $399 ship free. If this page puts one coral on your list, it is worth seeing what else belongs in the box — start with corals under $100 or the newest WYSIWYG pieces.
Our stony corals are either aquacultured at the shop in Key West under Florida Aquaculture Certificate #AQ0254072 or conditioned in our Key West systems before they ship, and the photo on a WYSIWYG listing is the exact animal that ships. Corals ship UPS Overnight every Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are ever in Key West, come see the raceways.