Rhodactis
Rhodactis, the elephant's ear, is a unique mushroom in the Discomatidae family. Given its unique texture and appearance, this coral would make an ideal addition to any reef aquarium.
Rhodactyces are widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific. They have a beautiful oral disc covered with branched pseudo-tentacles. Some species have thick tissues, but most are quite thin and slippery to the touch. It is a magnificent coral, often referred to as Tonga blue mushroom, giant green metallic mushroom, hairy mushroom and elephant ear. It is an undemanding fungus and easy to keep, even for beginners with some aquarium experience.
This genus of fungi is extremely diverse. Some Rhodactis remain small, while others, such as the Elephant Ear, can naturally reach a size of up to 30 cm in diameter. The colour of the mushroom varies widely and can be purple, brown, green, pink and blue. The colour of the tentacles usually contrasts with the main colour of the mushroom. Also, the size of the mushroom depends on its location in the aquarium, the light and the water parameters.
In the natural environment, Rodactis elephant ear lives in shallow, relatively warm water. Therefore, before placing this fungus in the aquarium, it is very important to ensure that the water parameters are as follows: temperature 22-26 º C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025. The coral requires iodized water. Need to create a small current of water in the aquarium. Due to the fact that Rodactis feeds on free-floating microorganisms in the water column, the water flow should be intermittent or variable.
This fungus feeds by means of photosynthesis. It has symbiotic algae, with which the fungus has a "mutually beneficial relationship" - they feed each other nutrients. in nature Rhodactis - elephant's ear feeds on phytoplankton and zooplankton. Under aquarium conditions, the coral is fed artemia, shredded mussel meat and squid.
Reproduction
The fungus Rhodactis multiplies by dividing. There is thus a serious threat of overgrowth, which may eventually become a problem for many aquarists. The small polyp separates from the base of the parent polyp and grows to full size in only 2 months.
Finally, the Rhodactis is somewhere between a coral and a sea anemone, which makes it an excellent long-lasting addition to any saltwater aquarium. Furthermore, it provides an ideal habitat for clownfish.
