Long-tentacle plate coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Long tentacle plate coral, Fungia plate coral, Mushroom plate coral
Family
Fungiidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific; on sand and rubble in sheltered lagoons
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
with_caution
Lighting
Moderate
Flow
Low to medium

Care

A solitary, free-living plate coral with a round disc covered in long tentacles that look like an anemone, often with paler or coloured tips. LiveAquaria lists green, tan, red, white and pink forms. Placement: bottom of the tank on fine sand, never on rockwork, which damages its tissue. It may inflate to about twice its size. Light and flow: moderate light and gentle to moderate flow. Water: LiveAquaria rates it moderate. Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and keep them steady; regular dosing of calcium, alkalinity and trace elements (or a calcium reactor in a busy reef) is needed as the coral grows. It is easily damaged in transit and by handling, so lift it by the skeleton. Growth: slow. 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/plate-coral-long-tentacle). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but feed micro-plankton, brine shrimp or small meaty foods once or twice a week.

Breeding

Not fragged in the usual way. Plate corals can bud small new discs (anthocauli) from the edge or from a damaged skeleton.

Compatibility and tank mates

Aggressive: its long tentacles sting anything they touch and can reach well past the disc. Keep it 15 cm or more from other corals on the sand. It can be mistaken for an anemone by clownfish.

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

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