Mushroom Corals

We have a few mushroom corals in our tank at home. The first one we got we have had for a couple years and it is very easy to take care of. It started out being only a couple inches across in diameter when we first got it, and is now about 12 inches in diameter and continues to grow.

Mushroom Corals are some of the easiest species to care for and are recommended for aquarists at all levels. They are called mushroom corals because the individual polyps are large and fleshy. In lower light environment the polyps seem to stretch upward in the water, creating a mushroom-like appearance.  In normal-to-higher light environments, the polyps lie flat and have a discoid shape.

Mushroom corals are generally found in lower light and in nutrient rich environments, which makes them somewhat ideal inhabitants in a mixed species tank including fish and coral. Most corals require low light, are not picky about flow and can be kept in less than pristine conditions.  They will reproduce in your tank through budding or splitting.  Budding is a process where a small portion of the foot extends, then detaches, forming a new polyp.  Splitting is a process where the corallimorph actually forms a second mouth and splits down the center, essentially cutting itself in half—while each half re-grows to full size.

If you are looking to start up a salt water tank, I highly suggest a mushroom coral be one of the first corals you get. They are the easiest to take care of and will usually last a long time.

 Saltwater Aquarium Tip: If you plan to keep these coral with smaller fish, avoid large mushroom species like the ‘Elephant Ear’ or ‘giant cup mushroom’, which will snack on unsuspecting smaller fish that get too close.