Description
Lobophytum Lobed Leather Toadstool
Lobed Toadstool corals are a group of soft corals, in the genus Lobophytum, that are found throughout the Indo-Pacific. They are easy to care for so are a good beginners coral and a great addition to any tank. There are several species which come in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes.
They have a strange habit to watch out for. Every few months they may withdraw their tentacles and retract into themselves. While some corals do this due to stress Toadstool Corals periodically shed their slime coats. This shedding takes place over the course of a few days to a week and the coral expands back into its normal proportions once complete. This shedding helps remove any attached bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms all at once. But it can be alarming to watch if you’re not expecting it as the coral appears to be shriveling up and dying. Good flow is important to help the coral remove this skin.
However they are some of the most beginner-friendly corals around. They don’t require lighting as intense as many stony corals do and they have a high tolerance for dissolved organic material.
Nourishment of the Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral is attained through photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. Photosynthetic nourishment is done through the presence light, supplemented further with their symbiotic relationship with an algae called zooxanthellae living within them. Chemosynthetic nourishment is done through the absorption of nutrients in the water. With this, the addition of dissolved nutrients is very important. You can also do supplemental feeding with the use of mysis or brine shrimp.
Difficulty: Easy
Lighting: Medium
Flow: Medium
Feeding: Relies on zooxanthellae and plankton
Aggressiveness: Semi-Peaceful
Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine,