Bullseye Mushroom

Rhodactis inchoata is a mushroom coral from the western Pacific, best known in the trade as the "bullseye mushroom" or "Tonga blue mushroom." The disc surface is covered with short, star-shaped tentacles; because these are spaced a little more sparsely than those of the hairy mushroom, the disc looks less puffy. Its color is in bluish gray, green and brown tones; around the central mouth there is often a ring of a different color. Rhodactis species are difficult to tell apart, and the same name may be used for different forms.

• Low to moderate light (about 50–150 PAR) and low, indirect flow.
• The lower zone of the rockwork or shaded side surfaces.
• Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–11 dKH; stable water with some nutrients.
• Protect pump intakes with sponges; individuals that detach can drift.

It is photosynthetic. It catches small mysis or powdered food placed on its disc; feeding once a week speeds up growth but is not required.

It is semi-aggressive: it can close its disc over small corals next to it and shades them as it spreads. Keep it 10–15 cm away from stony corals and zoanthids. It can be kept with other mushroom corals. Some dwarf angelfish may pick at the discs.