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Datasheet
| Care Description | Fungia Plate corals are one of the few types of large polyp stony corals capable of moving themselves and relocating. There is a reason they are kept on the substrate exclusively. If plate corals are placed on the aquascape, they will jump off of your rock work! Please see below for additional care tips for Fungia. |
| Water Flow | Moderate - Strong |
| Temperature | 22.2°C / 71.96°F - 25.6°C / 78.08°F |
| Specific Gravity | 1.023-1.026 |
| Carbonate Hardness | 8-12 |
| pH | 8.1-8.4 |
General Description
Fungia Plate corals belong to the family Fungia and are known for being one of the few large polyp stony corals capable of self-movement and relocation. They are typically kept on the substrate due to their tendency to jump off aquascape rockwork.
Demands and Hardiness
Plate corals like the Sky Blue Tongue Coral require moderate to high lighting conditions for optimal growth. They are moderate to strong water flow corals but are best suited to be placed on the substrate to prevent them from jumping off rocks. Adapted to eating prepared foods, Fungia Plate corals benefit from regular spot feeding of medium to large-sized pellets and meats like shrimp and krill.
Lighting
Fungia Plate corals thrive in moderate to high lighting environments. Acclimation to intense lighting, such as metal halides, may require a longer period. Brighter light conditions often enhance the coloration of these corals.
Water Flow
Moderate water movement is recommended for Fungia Plate corals, although they can tolerate fairly strong flow. It is important to remember to place these corals on the substrate to prevent them from moving and potentially detaching from rocks.
Feeding
While being photosynthetic, Fungia Plate corals are excellent feeders that benefit greatly from spot feeding with large meaty foods like shrimp and krill. Care should be taken to feed appropriately-sized food chunks to avoid issues with swallowing.
Propagation
Successful fragmentation has been achieved with Fungia corals, but asexual reproduction through this method is slow. Efforts to aquaculture these corals are ongoing, but cost-effective propagation methods are yet to be established. Fragmented pieces take a considerable amount of time to regain their characteristic round shape, and sustainable captive harvests remain unlikely.
Localization & Habitat
Plate corals, such as the Sky Blue Tongue Coral, are primarily found around Indo-Pacific islands like Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef, with a significant portion originating from Australia.