Long Tentacle Plate care guide
Long Tentacle Plate (Heliofungia actiniformis) — reef coral, 24-26 °C, PAR 75-150, salinity 1.024-1.026.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Heliofungia actiniformis is a free-living plate coral with long anemone-like tentacles that remain extended day and night. The species is sensitive to handling and parameter swings and is considered an advanced LPS.
Taxonomy
- Family: Fungiidae
- Genus: Heliofungia
- Scientific name: Heliofungia actiniformis
- Common synonyms: Heliofungia, Disc Anemone Coral
Habitat
Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. Wild colonies rest on soft-sediment lagoonal bottoms and back-reef areas with gentle flow and filtered light.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity (SG): 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
Placement and lighting
- Lighting (PAR): 75-150 PAR
- Flow: low
- Recommended tank age: 6 months
- Growth rate: 0.05-0.2 cm/mo
Place directly on a fine sandbed in the lower aquarium. Low flow prevents tissue tearing; moderate light is preferred. Do not place on rock, where the underside tissue would be damaged.
Feeding
Photosynthetic but strongly responsive to spot-feeding. Mysis, brine shrimp and reef-roids one to three times per week with amino-acid supplements support tissue and tentacle health.
Compatibility
Moderately aggressive via stinging tentacles. Maintain a clear buffer around the colony and avoid contact with other corals during settling. Reef-safe with shrimp and fish.
Care notes
Sensitive — many specimens decline within months in suboptimal systems. Stable alkalinity, low nitrates and consistent salinity are required. Quarantine new arrivals to check for jelly disease.
Heliofungia actiniformis Propagation Guide
Overview
Heliofungia actiniformis is a solitary mushroom coral in the family Fungiidae, found across the Indo-Pacific in shallow water. Its thick, fleshy polyp has a single mouth surrounded by long tentacles with knobbed tips that stay almost permanently extended, so it superficially resembles a large sea anemone. The IUCN lists the species as Vulnerable, partly due to heavy collection for the aquarium trade.
Reproductive Mode
The coral is fixed to the substrate as a juvenile but becomes detached and free-living as an adult. It reproduces both sexually and asexually, and the asexual budding of new polyps is what makes captive propagation possible.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Besides reproducing sexually by liberating eggs and sperm into the water column, this coral sometimes buds off a new polyp. Propagation therefore relies on this natural budding rather than slicing a colony, since Heliofungia is a single free-living polyp. Any handling must avoid tearing the delicate tissue around the long tentacles.
Conditions for Propagation
Heliofungia is sensitive and prefers very stable parameters and gentle flow over a soft substrate. Because the species feeds heavily, supplemental feeding supports the energy reserves needed to bud and to recover from any stress, and a mature system reduces the risk of failure.
Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction occurs through broadcast spawning of eggs and sperm into the water column. Larval rearing through settlement is not feasible at home, so propagation is limited to waiting on and supporting natural asexual budding.
Common Challenges
The species is notably sensitive to parameter swings, disease, and bleaching, and its extended tentacles tear easily during handling. Stress can trigger rapid decline, so the coral is best left undisturbed except for careful feeding.