Mushroom and Ricordea Care Guide
Mushroom corals are colorful, hardy, and easy to grow, which makes them one of the best corals for new reef tanks. Ricordea, their close cousins, bring bright neon colors and a bumpy texture that collectors love.
Common types
- Discosoma: smooth, disc-shaped mushrooms in a wide range of colors. The easiest to keep.
- Rhodactis: fuzzy or hairy-looking mushrooms that often grow in clusters.
- Ricordea florida: bubbly surfaces in neon green, orange and pink. Hardy and easy.
- Ricordea yuma: brighter, multicolored Ricordea that prefer a more stable tank.
Lighting
Most mushrooms prefer low to moderate light, roughly 50 to 150 PAR. Too much light makes them shrink, stay closed, or fade. Ricordea can handle a bit more light than Discosoma.
Flow
Low to moderate flow works best. Strong flow can keep mushrooms closed or make them detach and drift to a calmer spot.
Placement
Place mushrooms on the sand bed or low on the rockwork. They can walk slowly across the rock, and they reproduce by splitting, so give them room away from slower-growing corals.
Feeding
Mushrooms get most of their energy from light. Larger mushrooms and Ricordea will accept small foods like reef roe or powdered coral food, which can speed up growth. Browse our fish and coral food.
Why is my mushroom shrinking?
Common causes include too much light, too much flow, or a parameter swing. Mushrooms often shrink after a move and recover within a few days. For a full checklist, read Why Is My Coral Closed Up?
Propagating mushrooms
Mushrooms split on their own over time. To frag one, cut it in half or quarters through the mouth with a sharp blade, then hold the pieces in a low-flow container or rubble cup until they attach.
Browse our mushroom coral collection.
