Magic Carpet Mushroom Coral

Magic Carpet Mushroom, Rhodactis sp., is a highly textured corallimorph known for its broad fleshy oral disc and dense covering of branched, knob-like vesicles. This WYSIWYG specimen displays an especially vivid combination of fluorescent orange and yellow-green raised structures across a blue-green to gray-green base. Many of the surface vesicles form compact flower-like clusters, while longer green tentacle-like structures are visible around portions of the outer margin. The mixture of orange, fluorescent green, yellow, and cooler blue-green tissue creates the complex multicolor appearance reflected in the “Magic Carpet” name. Rhodactis mushrooms contain symbiotic zooxanthellae that provide much of their nutritional needs through photosynthesis, but they can also capture small suspended and meaty foods. Under favorable aquarium conditions, they may expand considerably and reproduce through division or pedal laceration. Because species-level identification within Rhodactis cannot reliably be confirmed from external appearance alone, Rhodactis sp. is the scientifically appropriate designation.

Care Guide: Rhodactis sp. generally performs well under low to moderate reef lighting with low to moderate, indirect water flow. Avoid strong direct flow, which can interfere with full expansion or potentially cause the mushroom to detach from its substrate. Place on stable lower to mid-level rockwork with adequate room for expansion and future spreading. Maintain stable salinity, temperature, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate. Rhodactis mushrooms obtain much of their nutrition through photosynthesis but may benefit from occasional small meaty or planktonic foods. Acclimate gradually when introducing the coral to stronger lighting and avoid abrupt changes in aquarium conditions.