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Mushroom Coral

Discosoma sp.Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828Genus

Mushroom-shaped soft coral in various colors. Hardy and prefers low light and gentle flow. Easy to propagate.

Mushroom Coral (Discosoma sp.)
© Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA/NMFS/OPRPublic domainSource

Fluorescence appearance

Mushroom Coral under white light
Under white light
Mushroom Coral under blue light (fluorescence)
Under blue light (fluorescence)※AI-rendered image

Coral fluorescent proteins are excited by blue/actinic light. Appearance differs greatly from under white light.

Names & Synonyms

  • CommonMushroom Coral
  • Commonディスクコーラル
  • SynonymActinodiscus
  • SynonymDiscostoma
  • SynonymPhialactis

Overview

Mushroom corals (family Fungiidae) are disc- or umbrella-shaped solitary corals with radiating septa on their upper surface. Widespread across Indo-Pacific reef slopes and sandy substrates, juveniles attach to hard substrate while adults become free-living and can move across the sand bed—a remarkable behavior unique among stony corals. Colors range from brown and green to pink and red, with individuals reaching 5–30 cm in diameter. They are among the easiest corals to keep, thriving in low to moderate light (50–200 PAR) with gentle flow when placed directly on the sand bed. Regular target feeding accelerates growth.

Care Specifications

Temperature24〜27℃
Specific gravity1.023〜1.025
Salinity33〜35 ppt
KH (carbonate hardness)8〜12 dKH
LightingLow
Water flowLow
PlacementBottom

Care Points

  • LightingLow to moderate
  • FlowPrefers gentle flow
  • PlacementLower tank in shaded areas
  • PropagationReproduces by natural splitting
  • NotesShrinks under strong light — avoid overexposure

Regulatory & Conservation

Notes:
イソギンチャクモドキ目(Discosoma, Corallimorpharia=ディスクコーラル)。CITES 非掲載。

Sources

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