Long Tentacle Plate Corals are a large polyp stony (LPS) coral often referred to as a Heliofungia Plate, Mushroom, or Disk Coral. The plate corals we offer come to us from Australia and are very hardy. The Heliofungia actiniformis plate coral is the only member of its genus. It used to be considered a part of the subspecies called Fungia because the skeletons are very similar, but not the same. The Fungia was it's scientific name until coral biologists studied the different sizes and shapes of the polyps between the fungia coral and the Heliofungia coral. With its long tentacles extended, the Heliofungia plate coral takes on the appearance of a long tentacle anemone. They are a solitary, semi aggressive, and with their sweeper tentacles can sting other corals that it comes in contact with. With placement in the aquarium, keep in mind that it will often inflate itself with water and expand to twice its size, with sweeper tentacles extending well beyond its base. Leave approximately 3 times the size of the coral between it and any other coral in the reef tank to keep enough room for the sweeper tentacles to not be able to reach any neighbour coral. The long tentacle plate coral, heliofungia actiniformis are best placed on the bottom of a reef aquarium, preferably lying on a fine sandy substrate. They are fairly easy to maintain as a reef aquarium coral and will make an excellent candidate coral for both the beginner to advanced reef aquarist.
Difficulty A hardy and easy to care for coral making it a good beginner coral.
Aggressiveness This is a semi aggressive species. They can sting nearby corals so leave a few inches between Long Tentacle Plate corals and other corals in the reef aquarium.
Water-flow
It requires moderate water flow.
Lighting
It requires moderate lighting (PAR 100-150). T5's, Metal Halides, or LED's can all grow Heliofungia plate corals when the proper PAR levels are provided. We recommend a 14-20K color spectrum for best coloration.
Tank Recommendations
Long tentacle plates are a solitary, semi aggressive coral, with long tentacles that can sting other corals that they come in contact with. With placement in the aquarium, keep in mind that it will often inflate itself with water and expand to twice its size, with sweeper tentacles extending well beyond its base. Leave approximately 3 times the size of the coral between it and any other coral in the reef tank to keep enough room for the sweeper tentacles to not be able to reach any neighbour coral. It will do best on the bottom of a reef aquarium, preferably lying on a fine sandy substrate.
Diet and Feeding
This is a great coral to have fun with. We recommend feeding both a liquid micro-plankton and brine shrimp. It can also be fed tiny 1/16th" to 1/8th" pieces of squid directly into their mouths. The more often you feed directly to their mouth's the more often you will see at feed time their mouth open waiting for food.
Propagation
In captivity, propagation of Heliofungia corals is more difficult then other LPS corals because it needs to be done by cutting the disc into multiple pie shaped wedges. Use a water saw or other saw that can quickly saw through the bone. Make sure the animal has been well fed and is healthy before attempting this type of fragmentation.
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