Mushroom Coral

About

Mushroom coral (Discosoma sp.) is one of the most forgiving soft corals you can put in a reef tank, and for many hobbyists it's the species that gets them hooked on keeping corals in the first place. These are corallimorpharians rather than true stony corals. Flattened, fleshy polyps that spread across rock surfaces in overlapping colonies, ranging in color from plain brown or grey through to vivid greens, purples, and mottled patterns depending on the specific variety. In the wild, Discosoma species are found across tropical reef systems where they typically colonize lower-light, lower-flow zones, often carpeting the shaded undersides of ledges or rubble fields in dense mats. That tolerance for modest light and gentle flow translates well to the home aquarium, where they'll generally settle in and start spreading without much fuss. They feed partly through photosynthesis via their zooxanthellae, but also capture particulate matter and can benefit from occasional target feeding with small meaty foods. Because they reproduce readily by dividing, a single frag can turn into a colony over time. The main thing to watch is placement. They can sting neighboring corals if they creep too close, so give them their own territory on the rockwork.