Rhodactis inchoata

Carlgren, 1943

Small Elephant Ear Mushroom, Bullseye Mushrooms

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Natural Environment: Inhabits reef slopes and reef shallows, sometimes where the nutrient level is more concentrated, i.e., bays, lagoons, and boat channels.

General Husbandry: Sometimes called "Small Elephant Ear Mushroom Corals" because of their larger size than very common mushrooms. Some also have concentric different colored circles, making them far more expensive than single colored mushrooms.

Polyps may be blue, green or purple. Each tentacle is star-shaped and arranged in radial rows around the disc.

Moderate light and currents suit them well!

They can be fed small pieces of fish/shrimp flesh.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Corallimorpharia

Family: Discosomatidae

Genus: Rhodactis

FYI: Easily propagated from cuttings.

Provide enough space between them and their neighbors!

Experience Level: Beginner

Diet: Photosynthetic/Carnivore/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Slightly aggressive

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe:With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 72 - 83°F (22 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Lighting: PAR 200 - 300+

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.