TankBud

Mushroom coral

Discosoma

Also known as Disc Anemone, Mushroom Anemone, Discosoma Mushroom, Actinodiscus

SaltwaterCoral

Mushroom coral (Discosoma)
Kazvorpal (talk) (Uploads) · CC-BY-SA-3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
3.9 in
10 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Discosomidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs

Overview

The mushroom coral is a spreading corallimorph for the shaded lower reef. It is a forgiving choice for a beginner.

Did you know

A mushroom coral's posture doubles as a simple lighting gauge. One that reaches upward on a long stalk wants more light, while one that stays clamped shut is usually getting too much.

Caring for the mushroom coral

Give mushroom corals low light, roughly 50 to 100 PAR, and gentle water movement. They are among the best corals for low-light, low-flow spots, so place them low on the rockwork, out of direct powerhead output. Too much light makes them shrink or bleach. Too much flow can tear them loose, and a detached mushroom reattaches poorly.

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Mushrooms need a tank of at least 11 gal (40 L), and they tolerate higher nutrients. They get most of their energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae, and they can also absorb dissolved nutrients and capture fine food.

They are passive and low-sting toward their neighbors. A colony expands by pedal laceration and by splitting, where a single disc pinches into two. A happy mushroom slowly multiplies and can carpet a rock over time without ever being fragged.

Good to know

Discosoma is a corallimorph in the family Discosomidae, a relative of true corals that lacks any hard skeleton. It is also sold as the disc anemone or the mushroom anemone, or as Actinodiscus.

In the wild

Discosoma mushrooms grow as flat, smooth discs on rock in the shaded, calmer parts of Indo-Pacific reefs.

Common questions

What size tank does a mushroom coral need?

A mushroom coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).

What temperature and pH does a mushroom coral need?

A mushroom coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does a mushroom coral eat?

A mushroom coral gets most of its energy from symbiotic zooxanthellae. It can also absorb dissolved nutrients and capture fine food.

How big does a mushroom coral get?

An adult mushroom coral reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a mushroom coral breed?

Mushroom corals spread by pedal laceration and by splitting, where a single disc pinches into two. A colony slowly multiplies across a rock on its own, with no fragging needed.

Related species