Scientific
Name: Heliofungia actiniformis
Classification: LPS
Common Names: Plate Coral
Description:
To the uninitiated, the Plate coral can look like an anemone. It has a
rounded flat skeletal disk with long tentacles extending from the top. These
tentacles are frequently brown or green in color, sometimes with brightly
colored tips. The coral can swell up its tissues with water and 'float' to a new
location using water currents.
Veron: Polyps are solitary,
free-living (except for juveniles) and flat with a central mouth.
Septa have large lobed teeth. Polyps are among the largest of all
corals. Tentacles are extended day and night and are long, similar
to those of giant anemones. There is one mouth up to 30 millimeters
wide. Color is pale or dark blue-green or gray tentacles with white
or pink tips. The oral disc is striped.
Natural Environment:
Veron: Usually found on flat soft or rubble
substrates especially in reef lagoons or shallow turbid environments.
Abundance: Common.
Care:
Hardiness: Considered to be
fairly delicate. Care has to be exercised when removing the coral from the
water not to tear the tissues on the sharp sepia. It is best to get the
coral to deflate before removing it.
Lighting: Requires moderate to strong lighting.
Water Current: Plate corals prefer low to moderate water
flow. Optimum is enough to lightly wave its tentacles.
Temperature: Does well within a range of at least 75º to 84º F
Aggressiveness: High. The Plate coral packs a fairly powerful
sting similar to an anemone and this is aggravated by the fact that it also has the habit of moving
itself by inflating its tissues and floating around a little. It is usually best
to pen the Plate coral in using small rocks to prevent its wandering.
Feeding: Plate coral is photosynthetic and requires no direct
feeding, but an occasional feeding of shrimp or other meaty food once or twice a
month is appreciated.
Supplements: Maintaining correct calcium levels is important for
skeletal development
Tank Positioning: Should be placed on the bottom of the
tank on the sandy substrate. As noted above, penning it in with small
rocks is a good idea to prevent it from wandering.
