Brain Coral questions

[GreggCharest]

What should I feed a brain coral - lobophylia, I think.

The man at the store cautioned me about having a clownfish in the same tank - that they might try to nest as if the brain was an anemone. Has anyone ever experienced this, or even heard of something like this happening? (there are no fish in my tank, currently, but I wanted to add a clown in the future.)

Any other special instructions?

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

some times they do host clowns but theres nothing wrong with it.

 

[davewbush]

I had clowns and brains in my tank for 5 years and no problems. I've never spot fed my brain, but a lot of people on here do. I just keep my water params good and ad zooplex and photoplex once a week. I have been thinking about trying to feed in the future.

 

[pimpinitup6969]

i spot feed mine mysis after the lights in the tank are off for a little while!

 

[FavaBean]

pimpin... do you support his habit lol

 

[KarlBob]

Clownfish who don't have anenomes host in lots of different things. Most of the "hosts" are not harmed by the clownfish, though some may waste energy by reacting to the clownfish. If there are other corals in the tank when you get your clownfish, they may be more attracted to the other corals than the brain coral.

Feeding lobophyllia is not necessary, but it's probably helpful to them. Well-fed lobophyllia might grow faster, or have brighter colors, or something. Adding a food like Phytoplex or Reef Chili to the tank can be a way of feeding your lobo, even if you don't feed it directly. If you'd like, you can spot-feed the lobo by placing things like mysis or Cylcopeez within reach of its tentacles while it's open.

 

[edgex]

My green carpet hosted my clarki clown but the carpe started wondering so it was traded to lfs.Now the clarki is trying to host my elagance coral.The clarki stopped and the elagance looks fine again.It was close to being reunited with the carpey as I like my elagance coral and have had it 3 years amazingly

 

[will16]

Here you go!

I have 2 open brain corals and my clown goes back and forth hosting in both of them. It really doesn't seem to bother the brains at all. Sometimes they even have their feeding tentacles out while the clown is sitting in it.

IME, brains do need to be fed. Not often but do need it. I feed mine mysis maybe once a week. I went for a while not feeding them and they totally shrunk and shriveled up. Once I started feeding again, they fattened right back up.

 

[Mopar Reefer]

I have a Green Brain and I spot feed once a week with Krill shrimp or a silverside. It takes some patience to spot feed them as mine had to be coax'd into holding onto the food. Just my .02$

 

[GreggCharest]

This is very helpful. The lfs didn't say "no" to clownfish, but he was certainly very cautious about it.

Thanks for the tips on foods and feeding - some of this stuff I already have on hand, and others I will research.

High Regards,

Gregg

 

[circusink22]

my clown hosts in my open brain too, i put the clown and a BTA in the tank together it likes the brain better, it doesnt hurt the brain but I keep a close eye on it. my brain healed from my tang taking some big bites out of it, the whole time the clown hosted in it.
i guess just make sure the clown is not beating it up too bad it could rip the tissue.