Green Fuzzy Mushroom

Green Fuzzy Mushroom

Rhodactis howesii

Care Level Easy
Lighting Low to moderate
Water Flow Low to moderate
Placement Low rock or sand
Aggression Peaceful (can capture prey)
Coloration Bright green (also brown or metallic)

Overview

The Green Fuzzy Mushroom, also called the Hairy Mushroom, is a hardy Rhodactis corallimorph whose disc is densely covered in branching, fuzzy tentacle projections that give it a shaggy, carpet-like texture. The glowing green morph is especially popular. Easy, forgiving and fast to spread — an excellent beginner coral with loads of character.

Care & Placement

Thrives under low-to-moderate light and gentle flow; too much of either causes it to shrink or detach. Place it low on the rock or on the sand bed. Once settled it splits and spreads into a colony. Its fuzzy tentacles are mildly sticky.

Feeding

Photosynthetic, but a capable feeder — larger specimens will fold over and engulf meaty foods (mysis, chopped shrimp, pellets) target-fed occasionally, which boosts growth.

Propagation

Very easy — it self-divides by fission; you can also cut the disc and let each piece heal on rubble.

Cautions

Peaceful, but larger fuzzy Rhodactis can occasionally capture and eat small fish or shrimp that settle on them. Can slowly overgrow neighboring corals — give it its own patch of rock.