Black Clowns

Scientific Name: Rhodactis indosinensis
Common Name: Hairy Mushroom
Classification: Soft Coral
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium
Ideal Placement: Middle

General Information: The Rhodactis Hairy Mushroom is a member of the order Corallimorpharia and occurs in many colors including brown and tan, and the more colorful green. Like the name suggests, the surface of these mushrooms are covered with many hair-like tentacles, giving it a hairy appearance. It is very easy to maintain in the reef aquarium, and a good choice for the beginner hobbyist. It is somewhat aggressive, however, and can harm sessile invertebrates and overgrow other inhabitants of the reef. It often grows in shallow water, so it prefers a medium to high light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. It reproduces by fission or laceration, and will do so in the home aquarium provided that water conditions are adequate, sometimes causing over-population. A small portion of the base or mouth will separate from the parent polyp and grow into a full sized mushroom within a few months. The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provide some of its nutritional requirements, but it also eats plankton and some larger organisms. It is very popular with some of the brighter green and purple colors.