Mushroom Coral Care Guide

Mushroom Corals rank among the most beginner-friendly corals in the reef aquarium hobby due to their exceptional hardiness and tolerance for imperfect water conditions. Mushroom Corals thrive under low lighting of 50-150 PAR, accept fluctuating water parameters that would stress other coral species, and require minimal supplemental feeding since they derive most nutrition from photosynthesis.

Discosoma mushrooms offer the easiest entry point for new reef keepers, while Rhodactis and Ricordea provide colorful options once basic husbandry skills are established.

Mushroom Corals possess stinging nematocysts along their disc surfaces that can damage neighboring corals on contact, though direct aggression is less concerning than their tendency to spread aggressively across rockwork. Mushroom Corals reproduce rapidly through splitting, budding, and pedal laceration, allowing colonies to overtake slower-growing species within months. Discosoma varieties spread fastest and may release chemical compounds that irritate sensitive corals sharing the same water.

Reef keepers should place Mushroom Corals on isolated rock islands or dedicated sections of the aquascape to prevent unwanted colonization of prime coral real estate.

Mushroom Corals shrink or remain retracted primarily due to excessive lighting, strong water flow, or sudden changes in water chemistry. Mushroom Corals exposed to PAR levels above 150 will bleach and contract, while direct powerhead flow causes persistent retraction and potential detachment from substrate. Alkalinity swings exceeding 1 dKH per day or temperature fluctuations beyond 2-3 degrees stress Mushroom Corals and trigger defensive shrinking.

Reef keepers observing shrinking Mushroom Corals should first reduce lighting intensity, then verify flow is gentle and indirect, and finally test water parameters for stability over several days.

Mushroom Corals reproduce through multiple asexual methods including fission (splitting in half), budding (growing new polyps from the parent), and pedal laceration (leaving tissue fragments behind as they move that develop into new individuals). Mushroom Corals can also detach their oral disc and drift to new locations, settling where conditions suit them.

Discosoma mushrooms spread fastest due to their thinner discs and aggressive reproduction rate, potentially covering entire rocks within 6-12 months. Reef keepers wanting to slow Mushroom Coral spread should reduce direct feeding and place colonies in higher-flow areas with limited adjacent rock surfaces.

Discosoma mushrooms feature smooth or lightly textured discs with metallic sheens and spread fastest of all mushroom genera, making them the most affordable but also most invasive variety. Rhodactis mushrooms display fuzzy, hair-like tentacles covering their surface and include the prized Bounce Mushroom morphs with enlarged bubble tentacles that command premium prices.

Ricordea mushrooms are covered in small, round bubble-like tentacles and come in two species: Ricordea florida from the Caribbean with randomly-sized tentacles, and Ricordea yuma from the Indo-Pacific with more orderly tentacle arrangements and brighter coloration.

Mushroom Corals derive most of their nutritional requirements from photosynthesis through symbiotic zooxanthellae algae within their tissues, making supplemental feeding optional rather than necessary. Mushroom Corals will accept small meaty foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or reef-specific coral foods when offered, and target feeding once or twice weekly can enhance growth rates and color intensity.

Reef keepers maintaining Mushroom Corals in nutrient-rich systems with regular fish feeding typically see adequate growth without direct coral feeding, while those in ultra-low-nutrient tanks may benefit from occasional supplementation.