Blastomussa
Blastomussa wellsi · also called Blasto, Pineapple coral, Swollen brain coral, Blastomussa wellsi
Blastomussa wellsi is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral whose fleshy, rounded polyps—often deep red, green, or two-toned—make it a hardy, colorful favorite for lower-light, lower-flow reef zones. It is peaceful, undemanding, and well suited to beginners moving into LPS.
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Quick facts
| Size | Individual fleshy polyps ~0.5-1 in (1.5-2.5 cm) across; colonies grow into clusters of many corallites several inches wide. |
| Lifespan | 10–50 years |
| Social needs | group |
| Native region | Indo-Pacific reefs |
| Origin | Old World |
| Climate | 🌴 Tropical |
| Water type | 🌊 Marine |
| Family | Plerogyridae |
| Genus | Blastomussa |
Part of the LPS Corals
Large-polyp stony corals (brains, Euphyllia, Goniopora, Scolymia, Lobophyllia, Favites, Acan, Dendro, Octospawn) with fleshy polyps over a calcium-carbonate skeleton. Intermediate-care reef corals that appreciate moderate light/flow and direct feeding.
Habitat & space requirements
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
representativeRed/Maroon Blasto
Deep red to maroon polyps, the classic and most recognizable *B. wellsi* color form.
Tip: One of the most light-tolerant LPS — keep it LOW (PAR 50-80) and in gentle flow; under bright light it shrinks and the red dulls, so resist high placement.
representativeGreen-centered Blasto
Red or orange skirts surrounding fluorescent green centers—a striking two-tone natural morph.
Tip: The green center pops under actinic-leaning light, but keep overall PAR low — too much intensity makes the polyps stay deflated and hides the contrast.
representativeBlasto merletti (small-polyp) →
The smaller-polyped *B. merletti* sister species, forming dense mats of tiny polyps and traded as a distinct 'small polyp Blasto'.
Tip: Tighter, faster-encrusting than *wellsi* — give it a flat rock at the tank bottom and low flow, and it will carpet outward rather than mounding up.
representativePink / Salmon Blasto →
A softer pink-to-salmon polyp form, less common than the deep red but popular for its pastel tone.
Tip: Pastel pinks bleach easily — keep them shaded and low-light, as the salmon tone is one of the first to wash out if PAR creeps too high.
representativePurple/Indigo Blasto →
A scarce form with purple to indigo skirts, sometimes paired with green centers, prized for its unusual cool-toned coloration.
Tip: Purple pigments show best under blue-heavy spectrum at low PAR — bias your LEDs to actinics and keep it low in the tank to preserve the indigo.
representativeRainbow Blastomussa (Rainbow Blasto) →
A Blastomussa wellsi colony whose fleshy bubble polyps grade through red, orange, green and blue centers, giving each polyp a multicolor 'rainbow' ring around a contrasting mouth.
Tip: Place low in the tank on the sand or a low rock under modest light (PAR ~60-100) with gentle, indirect flow so the polyps inflate fully; too much flow or light keeps them deflated.
representativeUltra Rainbow Blasto (Vivid Rainbow) →
A top-grade rainbow Blastomussa wellsi with cool blue-green outer flesh and a fiery red-orange center, sold as a hand-picked show-grade piece.
Tip: Acclimate slowly to light and keep it low and shaded; these high-color Blastos can pale if blasted with intense LED, so dial PAR to the 60-90 range.
representativeBlastomussa merletti (Merletti Blasto) →
The smaller-polyp sister species, forming dense mats of penny-sized polyps in red, maroon, or green with a contrasting center, more 'colony forming' than the large-polyp wellsi.
Tip: Give it low light and low flow on the substrate or lower rock; merletti spreads as an encrusting mat, so leave open space around the colony for new polyps.
representativeRainbow Pinwheel Blasto (Blastomussa vivida) →
A large-polyp *Blastomussa vivida* whose oversized polyps (2 inches or more when open) display a swirling pinwheel of color radiating from the mouth. The vivida species is prized for showy, unusual multicolor patterns and much larger polyps than wellsi.
Tip: Give it open sandbed space with very gentle flow; vivida polyps inflate enormously and can sting or shade neighbors, so leave room around the colony.
representativeUltra Rainbow Blasto →
A premium trade grade for the most colorful imported blastos, packing reds, oranges, yellows, blues and greens into a single fleshy polyp cluster. The grade reflects color intensity rather than a single clonal lineage.
Tip: Low light and low flow near the bottom; if colors fade or brown, reduce intensity rather than increasing it, as blastos prefer subdued lighting.
representativeRed & Green Blastomussa wellsi →
The classic, most recognizable blasto: deep red or maroon fleshy polyps with contrasting green mouths and centers. The everyday workhorse morph that introduced most reefers to the genus.
Tip: An easy beginner LPS; place on the sandbed or low rock under low-to-moderate light and gentle flow, and spot-feed meaty foods occasionally to keep polyps plump.
representativeBlastomussa merletti (Red/Green) →
The small-polyp species (sometimes called pineapple coral): tight clusters of penny-sized polyps that usually max out around 1 inch, most often red with green centers. Grows on stalks rather than encrusting over rock like wellsi.
Tip: Keep it in low light and low-to-moderate flow on the sandbed or lower rock so the small polyps inflate; supplemental feeding of fine meaty or planktonic foods helps fuel the dense polyp cluster.
representativePink / Violet Blastomussa wellsi →
A softer pastel morph with pink-to-violet fleshy polyps, sometimes with green or lighter centers, offering a cooler color than the dominant reds and oranges. A favorite for collectors wanting non-red blastos.
Tip: Pinks and violets can wash out under strong light, so keep this one shaded and low in the tank with gentle flow to preserve the cool tones.
representativeDesigner / Rainbow Blasto
Line-selected aquacultured strains chosen for vivid multicolor polyps and propagated for the frag trade.
Tip: Rainbow lines need stable alk and gentle flow to fully inflate — feed small meaty bits (cyclops/mysis) at night to fuel color and faster head-splitting.
representativeWWC OG Rainbow Blastomussa →
The defining rainbow blasto. Polyps start out bright red/orange and develop yellow-green streaks radiating across the disc, leaving a vivid magenta center around each mouth. Widely considered one of the most sought-after blastos of all time. Fresh frags often do not show full rainbow color at first and color up as they grow.
Tip: Place low in the tank on the sandbed or lower rockwork under modest light (roughly 100-150 PAR) with gentle, indirect flow so the fleshy polyps inflate fully. An easy LPS; spot-feed meaty foods occasionally to support color and growth.
representativeWWC Rainbow Blasto →
The widely-circulated WWC rainbow strain of *Blastomussa wellsi*, showing red-orange bodies with green and yellow accents and bright centers. Sold as mini-colonies and cut-to-order frags, frequently as double-polyp WYSIWYG pieces.
Tip: Keep on the bottom third of the aquarium under low light with gentle, low alternating flow; too much current keeps the heavy tissue from expanding over the skeleton.
representativePhantasm Blastomussa →
A WWC-named *Blastomussa wellsi* piece with contrasting body and center coloration sold under the Phantasm name. One of WWC's named blasto offerings and among their more attainably priced ones.
Tip: Low light and low flow on the lower rockwork; occasional target feeding helps it hold coloration and add polyps.
representativeBloodstone Blastomussa →
A WWC-named wellsi morph featuring deep blood-red polyps, a richer, darker take on the classic red blasto. Sold as a premium WYSIWYG colony and one of WWC's higher-priced named blastos.
Tip: Deep reds hold best under modest light; place near the sandbed with low flow and avoid bright spots that can bleach the saturated red tissue.
representativeDark Desires Blastomussa →
A darkly-colored WWC-named wellsi piece with deep, moody body tones offset by brighter centers. Named for its dramatic dark coloration and sold as a premium WYSIWYG colony.
Tip: Keep it low in the tank with gentle flow and modest light; occasional feeding helps maintain the contrasting centers.
representativeAlchemy Experiment Blastomussa →
A multicolor WWC-named wellsi piece blending several colors across the polyp disc, named for its mixed palette. A higher-end collector offering sold as a premium WYSIWYG colony.
Tip: Multicolor blastos show their range best when fully inflated, so prioritize gentle flow and low light to let the heavy polyps expand over the skeleton.
representativeBeach Bar Blastomussa →
A WWC-named wellsi piece with warm, contrasting tropical coloration sold under the Beach Bar name. A higher-grade named blasto in the WWC lineup.
Tip: Place low in the tank under modest light with gentle flow; occasional spot-feeding supports color and polyp growth.
representativeWWC Intergalactic Explosion Blastomussa →
A WWC-named wellsi morph with bright, multicolored polyps named for its bursting, cosmic-looking color pattern. One of WWC's recognizable named blastos.
Tip: Low light and low flow on the lower rockwork let the fleshy polyps inflate and hold their color; feed meaty foods occasionally.