Common Name: Discosoma Mushroom
Scientific Name: Actinodiscus sp.
Origin: Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Great Barrier Reef
Category: Soft Coral / Corallimorphs
Care Level: Beginner
Temperament: Non-agressive
Lighting: Low
Waterflow: Low
Colors: Various
Growth Speed: Fast

Discosoma mushroom corals are one of the hardiest, fastest growing, corals we reefers can keep in our aquariums. They are an excellent beginner coral happily living in newer setups and mature reef tanks.

Tequila Sunrise Discosoma from our FCC aquaculture program. 

Placement

Mushroom corals, on mass, prefer lower lighted areas of the aquarium. Discosomas are susceptible to small white bumps on their polyp when they are exposed to too much lighting. You can, however, slowly acclimate them to a medium light environment. This may encourage better coloration from certain corallimorphs. If you notice your mushroom polyps “stretching” or creating a cup shape they are looking for more light!

It is important to keep mushroom corals in a lower flow area of your aquarium. If the polyp of your coral is lifted off of the rockwork and is flowing about it is in too much flow. If left unchecked, the coral will release itself from the rock a float around the tank looking for a new spot. In our experience, they usually get trapped in areas that are shaded or in a cave resulting in the death of the polyp. If this happens, it is important to find the polyp and put in in a very low flow area on top of some rubble. After a few weeks the coral will reattach its foot and you can now move it back onto the rockwork.

Superman Discosoma rock. 

Feeding

This coral will thrive in a tank without feeding, given that there is adequate lighting, as it relies heavily on the photosynthesis of its zooxanthellae. For mushroom corals, direct feeding is very uncommon. They are difficult to feed prepared foods as fish and inverts will usually steal the food before the coral can consume it. It isnt impossible but rather difficult and unnecessary. The main suppliment that helps mushroom corals is dosing amino acids. Adding amino acids to your aquarium will benefit your corals at a cellular level.

Afterburner Discosoma

Propagation

Propagating mushroom corals is one of the best ways to start learning how to frag corals. They are very forgiving and can grow from even the smallest fragment. Using a clean razer blade, take one polyp and start slicing it through the mushrooms mouth. You can make as many cuts as you can fit on each polyp given that you keep a little piece of the mouth in tact. Don’t worry if you miss the mouth, your frag can still survive and grow without it! Place these pieces in a very low flow section, a container works as well, with some rubble rock underneath. They will attach and heal within a few weeks.

Alternatively, you don’t necessarily need to grab the razer to make fragments of mushroom corals. Discosoma also reproduce through a process called pedal laceration. Corallimorphs are in slow proprietorial motion. As they move along the rock, very slowly, they leave behind a piece of their foot. Over time this small piece will grow into a whole new mushroom!

Interstellar Discosoma