Short Tentacle Plate Coral

Fungia sp.

Care Level	Easy — great beginner LPS
Lighting	Low to moderate
Water Flow	Low to moderate
Placement	Sand bed
Aggression	Peaceful
Coloration	Green, orange, pink, rainbow discs

Overview

The Short Tentacle Plate Coral (Fungia, “Disc” or “Mushroom Coral” — not to be confused with mushroom corallimorphs) is a single, free-living, disc-shaped fungiid with short tentacles and radiating ridges. Hardy, colorful, and forgiving, it is one of the best beginner LPS and comes in vivid, often rainbow coloration.

Care & Placement

Place directly on the SAND BED under low-to-moderate light and flow. As a free-living coral it inflates its tissue by day and can slowly move itself to a preferred spot. Give it open space, as inflated tissue can reach neighboring corals.

Feeding

Photosynthetic and a strong feeder with a large central mouth — target-feed meaty foods (mysis, chopped seafood) once or twice a week for excellent growth and color.

Propagation

Fungia can regenerate: a plate that is cut or damaged, or its bare skeleton, can bud tiny baby plates (anthocauli). Otherwise usually kept whole.

Cautions

Keep on sand, not rock (the underside is delicate). Handle by the skeleton edge, never the tissue. It can slowly relocate itself. Peaceful, but keep space around the inflated disc.