St. Thomas Mushroom - Red

This outrageously hued soft coral comes from the Caribbean. It is covered in large tentacles which are often swollen and branched. Its color may be intense scarlet to bright orange, sometimes translucent or with hints of other colors. It is also known as the Bubble or Warty mushroom. This coral arrives loose without any substrate.

It is often beneficial upon introduction to place the coral in low or shaded light and gradually move it to a more brightly lit location. To encourage it to attach to substrate it may be placed in a shallow dish with course rubble or rock. St. Thomas mushrooms may show better color and growth if given higher light levels and more food than more common types of mushroom.

St. Thomas mushroom corals receive most of their energy by utilizing the photosynthetic algae contained within their tissues. They will benefit from occasional feedings of zooplankton and small meaty items such as brine shrimp. They are covered by a thick layer of mucus which helps them consume small edible particles, and they also absorb dissolved nutrients from the water. They are quite adaptable and virtually pest and disease free.

St. Thomas mushrooms are peaceful with other corals so long as they do not physically touch them- they have been known to melt other corals, especially stony corals, in this situation. Different colors of St. Thomas often co-exist well in close proximity.

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Growth Speed: Medium
• Lighting: Medium - High
• Average Placement: Mid-Level
• Water Flow: Low
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive