Striped Long Tentacled Plate Coral - Heliofungia actiniformis

Long Tentacled Plate Corals are a bottom dwelling stony coral, however they are often mistaken for sea anemones. This is because when their tentacles are fully open they completely obscure their skeletons, giving the illusion of a soft bodied anemone.

Much the same as short-tentacled Fungia sp. disc corals, Heliofungia's skeleton forms a cupped disc with ridges that radiate from a central oral opening. These corals come in a variety of colors, usually green, pink, or purple. Tentacles extend several inches upward on the upper side of the animal, and may have brightly colored tips.

These corals have a medium aggressiveness rating because they are quite mobile on an open surface, and can sting other corals that it may come into contact. Place this specimen on a gravel or rubble bottom in direct light with a medium to low water movement. They will produce their own food through photosynthesis but will also accept frozen food such as mysis shrimp or brine shrimp. They are quite interesting to watch and will actually pass the food up the tentacles to the mouth of the coral.