Atlantic mushroom coral (Scolymia cubensis) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Scoly, Atlantic scolymia, Artichoke coral, Doughnut coral
Family
Mussidae
Origin
Western Atlantic and Caribbean, from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil; shaded reef slopes and overhangs
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Low to moderate; about PAR 50–100
Flow
Low to moderate

Care

Scolymia cubensis is a solitary large-polyp stony (LPS) coral: a single round, fleshy disc with one central mouth and a thick, dimpled surface. It is one of the true Atlantic scolymias. Colours are mostly green, red, brown or mottled. Place it on the sand bed or low on the rockwork in low light and gentle flow. In the wild it lives in shaded spots on reef slopes. LiveAquaria lists its relative, the Australian scolymia, as easy in care with moderate light, medium flow and bottom placement, and notes it can swell to about twice its size during the day, so it needs room. Water: LiveAquaria gives dKH 8–12, pH 8.1–8.4, specific gravity 1.023–1.025 and 22–26 °C, with calcium, magnesium, strontium and trace elements. Growth is slow. Naming: the popular "Australian scolymia" in the trade is now Homophyllia australis, a different, Pacific species; true Scolymia are Atlantic. Note: LiveAquaria covers only the Australian relative, so the figures above are from that page, not from a source on this species. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/australian-scolymia-coral-neon-green). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but it feeds readily when its tentacles come out in the evening. Offer meaty foods such as mysis, brine shrimp or chopped seafood once or twice a week.

Breeding

Solitary, so it is rarely fragged; it is not a beginner's cut. Damaged specimens sometimes produce small buds that can grow on.

Compatibility and tank mates

Not especially aggressive, but it expands a lot and can sting at night, so give it 10–15 cm of space. Some angelfish and butterflyfish nip it.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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