Mushroom Coral

About

Mushroom coral (Cycloseris somervillei) is a solitary, free-living stony coral native to the Western Central Pacific, where it tends to settle on sandy or soft substrates between reef formations and along protected lower reef slopes. Places well away from strong wave energy. Each polyp forms a single flattened disc with a gently arched upper surface and a smooth underside. A distinct elongated groove runs along the central axis, and the primary septa rise noticeably above the dome's surface, giving the coral a subtly ridged, textured look. Coloration is modest, mostly pale brown or softly mottled, so this isn't a coral you'd keep for bold color, but its clean disc shape has a quiet elegance. In the aquarium, Cycloseris somervillei is considered a reasonable choice for keepers newer to stony corals. It prefers gentle water movement and moderate light, and because it's a free-living species, it does best placed on a sandy or rubble bottom rather than mounted on rockwork. Replicating the soft-substrate environments it occupies in the wild. It's worth checking periodically that flow isn't flipping or relocating the disc, as these corals can struggle if left upside down for extended periods.