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Coral Guide |  |
Family: Fungiidae (Stony Corals)
Habitat: Reef slopes and flats, often on sediment bottoms, in areas with weak water flow.
Light: High Water Flow: Medium Space: 50+ gal.
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Easy Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: These corals have zooxanthellae which provide much of their nutrition. It is believed they also feed on microzooplankton and directly absorb some nutrients from the water.
Natural History: The Fungi produce a flat, radially ridged skeleton that is slightly dome-shaped and usually oval. Juveniles often start on rock substrate but break off and settle on sand or rubble as an adult. They are often green, bright purple, blue, or red. These corals may decalcify a section of body to generate asexual offspring or fragment to do the same. They can move (12 inches per day) and flip over to right themselves by repeated inflation and deflation of tissue.
Husbandry: Plate Corals often grow in crowded communities with different Fungiid species because they do not sting each other. They must be handled with care and should be placed on a soft rubble bottom. Care must be taken to remove or blow away accumulating debris. Mucus emission can cause damage to unrelated corals so they should be located a safe distance from other unrelated species. Fungiids benefit from regular feedings. Their colonies can reach 12 inches across.
AKA: Disc Coral, Mushroom Coral, Tongue Coral, Fungus Coral, Chinaman Hat Coral