Mushroom Coral

About

Mushroom coral (Heliofungia fralinae) is a solitary, free-living stony coral native to the Western Central Pacific, ranging across tropical reef systems from roughly Southeast Asia out to the Pacific island chains. In the wild it turns up across a broad depth range, sitting unattached on sandy or rubble substrates near reef structures rather than cementing itself to rock like many of its relatives. That free-living habit is one of its more interesting characteristics. It can slowly right itself if flipped and will generally position itself on the sandbed in a way that suits its needs. The coral produces a single large polyp with a disc-like form and fleshy, extended tentacles, giving it a look that sits somewhere between a traditional LPS coral and a soft coral anemone. In the aquarium, Heliofungia fralinae is considered a manageable choice for those getting into reef keeping, tolerating moderate lighting conditions and preferring low, gentle flow rather than the turbulent currents that some other LPS corals demand. Placement on an open sand bed is generally the right approach, mimicking the natural substrate it occupies on the reef. It rewards consistent water quality and reasonable stability without being overly demanding.