Not furry either, still lovely.
Mushroom Coral
Discosoma spp.
Also called Mushroom anemone, Disc anemone, Elephant ear mushroom, Mushrooms, Actinodiscus
From Tropical seas; corallimorpharians live in both temperate and tropical waters but are mostly tropical. Aquarium specimens usually come from Singapore exporters or mariculture.12
A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Soft-bodied disc polyp (no skeleton)
A flat, round disc on a very short stalk, with tiny tentacles arranged in rows across the face. It looks like a small mushroom cap stuck to rock and produces a lot of mucus.31
Personality what they are like
A quiet, sessile polyp that stays where it settles. It is rated semi-aggressive in reef tanks because a spreading group can crowd out neighbours.21
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Stays put on rock and slowly spreads as new discs form.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Easy to keep. Top up iodine, trace elements, strontium and calcium as part of normal reef care, and give it room to spread.2
Home where they are happiest
A reef aquarium with moderate light and low to medium flow, placed low to mid level on the rockwork. Stable reef-aquarium water: about 22-26 C (72-78 F), pH 8.1-8.4, alkalinity 8-12 dKH, specific gravity 1.023-1.025.2
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Partly fed by algae living in its tissue and partly by catching fine particles from the water. Small amounts of micro-plankton or brine shrimp can be offered to each disc.32
Company who they like around
Usually sold as several discs on one rock; it lives happily in groups of its own kind but should be kept a little away from slower-growing corals.21
The story where it all began
Rüppell and Leuckart named Discosoma in 1828, and de Blainville's Actinodiscus from 1830 is now treated as the same genus. Mushroom corals belong to the corallimorpharians, a group closely related to reef-building stony corals, and several species have long been staples of the aquarium trade.31
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The red fluorescent protein DsRed, widely used as a marker in biology labs, comes from a Discosoma mushroom coral.4
- 2
The lab marker dTomato was also developed from a Discosoma protein.3
- 3
Mushroom corals are close relatives of stony corals but have no skeleton at all.1
- 4
In the wild, corallimorpharians can spread into carpets that cover large patches of reef.1
Recognised by the official bits
- Taxonomy (via Wikipedia)
- Genus Discosoma Rüppell & Leuckart, 1828 (order Corallimorpharia); Actinodiscus de Blainville, 1830 is a synonym. About 11 species.3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Mushroom Coral. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingDepends on species, many feed from the light and the watervaries
- Salinity checkevery week
- Water testevery week
- Top-upTop up evaporation with fresh RO water, not salt waterevery day
- Water changeAbout 10 to 20% of the waterevery 2 weeks
- Light checkevery month
Owner questions the things everyone asks
How often should I feed my Mushroom Coral?
Your Mushroom Coral gets most of its food from the algae living in its tissue and from catching fine particles in the water. You can offer small amounts of micro-plankton or brine shrimp to each disc a couple of times a week, but it is not a heavy feeder. Furry Diary's starting plan is to let it feed from the light and water, and only supplement occasionally.32 Furry Diary plan
What does a Mushroom Coral eat, and what should it never eat?
It eats tiny particles from the water, and you can give it micro-plankton or brine shrimp. Never feed it large chunks of meaty food, as it cannot handle them and they would foul the water. Always check with your reef aquarium supplier for safe coral foods.32
How much space does a Mushroom Coral need?
It needs room to spread as new discs form, so give it a few inches of space around its rock. It is semi-aggressive and can crowd out slower-growing corals, so place it away from them. A small rock with several discs is fine for a modest tank.21
What temperature, light or water does a Mushroom Coral need?
Keep your reef aquarium at 22-26°C (72-78°F), pH 8.1-8.4, alkalinity 8-12 dKH, and specific gravity 1.023-1.025. It needs moderate light and low to medium water flow, placed low to mid level on the rockwork. Furry Diary's plan includes weekly salinity and water tests, daily top-ups with fresh RO water, and a 10-20% water change every two weeks.2 Furry Diary plan
How often should I clean a Mushroom Coral's home?
You do not need to clean the coral itself, but keep the water clean with a 10-20% water change every two weeks. Top up evaporation daily with fresh RO water, and test salinity and water quality weekly. The coral produces mucus, so good water flow helps keep it from settling on it.2 Furry Diary plan
Can a Mushroom Coral live with others?
Yes, it lives happily in groups of its own kind, often sold as several discs on one rock. Keep it a little away from slower-growing corals because it can spread and crowd them out. It is rated semi-aggressive in reef tanks, so give neighbours space.21
How long does a Mushroom Coral live?
With good care in a stable reef aquarium, it can live for many years, slowly spreading as new discs form. Lifespan varies, so ask your reef aquarium specialist for more details.
Can I handle a Mushroom Coral?
It is best not to handle it, as it is a soft-bodied polyp that produces a lot of mucus and can be damaged easily. If you must move it, gently touch the rock it is on, not the coral itself. Always wash your hands before and after working in the tank.31
Written from the sources on this page, a few checked guides (VCA, ASPCA, RSPCA) and Furry Diary's own starting care plan. A friendly guide, not a vet's advice.
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- Corallimorpharia (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for distribution, body plan, relation to stony corals, carpet growth
- Assorted Colored Mushroom Coral (LiveAquaria care sheet) liveaquaria.comused for care, light, flow, placement, water values, sizes, origin of stock
- Discosoma (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for names, taxonomy, colours, mucus, feeding, lab protein
- DsRed (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for DsRed origin and use
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Feeding times and frequency for your dog vcahospitals.comused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Dog grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: Cat grooming tips aspca.orgused for owner questions
- ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets aspca.orgused for owner questions
- RSPCA: What to feed your rabbit rspca.org.ukused for owner questions
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.