Agaricia Closed Brain Care Guide
Agaricia Closed Brain (Symphyllia agaricia) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-175 PAR, medium flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Agaricia Closed Brain (Symphyllia agaricia) is a LPS coral in the family Lobophylliidae. Closed-brain Symphyllia with deep grooves; commonly imported from Indonesia. Hardy and adaptive.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lobophylliidae
- Genus: Symphyllia
- Scientific name: Symphyllia agaricia
- Common synonyms: Symphyllia agaricia
Habitat
In the wild, Symphyllia agaricia is reported from Indonesia, Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a massive growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.
Tank requirements
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
- Minimum system age: 3 months
Placement and lighting
- PAR (placement zone): 75-175 PAR
- Water flow: medium
Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.
Feeding
Symphyllia agaricia hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Supplemental target feeding accelerates growth and supports colouration; commonly accepted items include mysis, reef-roids. Feed once or twice per week after lights-out, when polyps are extended.
Compatibility
This coral is moderately aggressive toward neighbours. It extends sweeper tentacles capable of stinging adjacent corals, so leave generous spacing (10-20 cm) between colonies. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.
Care notes
Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.1-0.3 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for massive colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.
Symphyllia agaricia Propagation Guide
Overview
Symphyllia agaricia is a closed brain coral in the family Lobophylliidae, commonly imported from Indonesia. Reef Builders notes the genus Symphyllia was reclassified into Lobophyllia in 2016, though the trade name persists; the record name is kept verbatim here. Reef Builders describes Symphyllia colonies as one solid skeleton with puffy tissue and thick walls, with deep grooves and the polyp mouths at the centre of the valleys.
Reproductive Mode
Symphyllia agaricia is colonial, forming a single connected skeleton whose corallites share walls, with polyps lining the grooved valleys. Because the tissue and skeleton form one continuous sheet, the colony can be cut into pieces that each retain living polyps, supporting both asexual fragging in aquaria and sexual spawning on the reef.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Reef Builders states most LPS corals require a band saw for fragging. On this grooved closed brain coral the cut is run along the deep valleys between the walls, taking sections that each include polyps with their skeleton. A coolant of home-aquarium water tinted light amber with iodine disinfects the cuts; each section is then dried and glued to a flat-based plug for stability.
Conditions for Propagation
Reef Builders advises gently basting mucus off fresh frags; polyps extend within hours and cut edges expand within days. Stable parameters, gentle flow and clean water aid healing. As a hardy, adaptive species it tends to recover readily, but the heavy mucus should be allowed to clear so it does not irritate neighbours during the settling-in period.
Sexual Reproduction
As a zooxanthellate stony coral in the Lobophylliidae, Symphyllia agaricia reproduces sexually by releasing gametes into the water column, where fertilisation forms planula larvae that disperse, settle and grow into new colonies. This broadcast route, separate from fragmentation, is the natural means by which the species establishes new individuals.
Common Challenges
Because the polyps sit inside the valleys, Reef Builders warns that cutting there can damage them, so the blade must stay centred in the grooves. The thick tissue tears if the saw strays, and the coral is moderately aggressive with abundant mucus, so frags need spacing while they heal. Poor water quality slows recovery and encourages tissue recession at the cut edges.