Plate coral (Lobactis scutaria) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Fungia scutaria, Disc coral, Mushroom coral (stony), Fungia plate coral
Family
Fungiidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, including Hawaii, usually on sand or rubble near reefs
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
beginner
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate
Flow
Low to moderate

Care

Lobactis scutaria is a free-living, solitary stony coral: a single oval disc up to about 15 cm long, with radiating ridges and short tentacles. It is usually green, tan, brown or purple. It can inflate with water to about twice its size. Placement: on the sand bed, ideally fine sand, never on the rockwork, where it can fall and tear. Light and flow: moderate light and low to medium flow; it does not need intense light. Water and supplements: stable calcium and alkalinity, with strontium and trace elements. Handle it gently. Naming: it was long known as Fungia scutaria and was moved to Lobactis in 2014. Neither source lists this species; the figures here are LiveAquaria's guidance for the short-tentacle plate coral (Fungia repanda). 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-purple-short-tentacle). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Photosynthetic, but feeding a few times a week with brine shrimp, mysis or small chopped meaty foods helps, only when the tentacles are fully out.

Breeding

Plate corals can bud small daughter discs (anthocauli) from the skeleton, especially from damaged or dying discs. These can be snapped off once a few centimetres across and placed on the sand.

Compatibility and tank mates

Semi-aggressive: it can damage corals it touches, and it can move slowly across the sand, so keep it clear of other corals on the bed.

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

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