Mushroom Coral Identification Guide

Mushroom coral names can be confusing because hobby trade names are not standardized and similar-looking corals may be sold under different names. Mushroom corals commonly encountered in reef aquariums include Discosoma, Rhodactis and Ricordea, along with collector varieties such as Bounce, Jawbreaker and Eclectus mushrooms.

This Mushroom Coral Identification Guide uses photographs and visible characteristics to help compare popular mushroom coral types and varieties. Color, texture, vesicle size, pattern and overall appearance can vary with lighting, aquarium conditions and individual specimens, so trade-name identification should be treated as a visual guide rather than a scientific classification.

Looking for Mushroom Corals? Browse our current Mushroom Corals for Sale to see available Yuma, Bounce, Jawbreaker, Eclectus and other individually photographed mushrooms.

Discosoma Mushrooms

Discosoma mushrooms generally have relatively smooth oral discs compared with the more textured surface of many Rhodactis mushrooms. They occur in a wide range of colors and patterns, with popular aquarium varieties including Jawbreaker, Eclectus, Candy Crush and Deadpool mushrooms.

Candy Crush

Candy Crush

Orange to reddish orange base color. Green or dark splatters. Occasionally found with purple splatter as well. More orange than a Jawbreaker.

Base Color: Orange or reddish orange

Vesicle / Surface Color: Dark or green (occasionally green patterns also contain purple splatters)

Mouth Color: Base color, green, or dark

Surface Texture: Smooth or nearly smooth

Pattern: Splatter

Deadpool

Deadpool

Red base with purple splatters. Similar to Candy Crush but a true red vs reddish orange.

Base Color: Red

Vesicle / Surface Color: Purple

Mouth Color: Red or purple

Surface Texture: Smooth or nearly smooth

Pattern: Splatter

Eclectus

Eclectus

Similar to Jawbreakers but with less orange tint to the base color. Eclectus have yellow to yellowish green base coloration. They are also less likely to develop additional colors beyond red.

Base Color: Gold, yellow, or yellowish green

Vesicle / Surface Color: Red

Mouth Color: Red or base color

Surface Texture: Smooth or nearly smooth

Pattern: Splatter

Interstellar

Interstellar

Dark base with orange spots. Sometimes the spots can also come in pink, green, blue, and yellow!

Base Color: Dark Purple

Vesicle / Surface Color: Orange and sometimes a rainbow of colors

Mouth Color: Dark Purple

Surface Texture: Smooth with small bumps

Pattern: Polka Dot

Jawbreaker

Jawbreaker

Super-bright golden-orangish base coloration makes Jawbreakers a favorite. As they mature some specimens develop green and even purple coloration in addition to the standard gold and red. Typically brighter than Eclectus with more orange tint to the base color.

Base Color: Golden orangish

Vesicle / Surface Color: Red; mature specimens may also develop green and occasionally purple

Mouth Color: Golden orangish

Surface Texture: Smooth or nearly smooth

Pattern: Splatter

Kryptonite

Kryptonite

Neon green base with contrasting dark splattering. Contrasts nicely with gold, orange, and red Discosoma varieties like Jawbreakers, Candy Crush, and Eclectus. Can be placed touching other Discosoma.

Base Color: Neon green

Vesicle / Surface Color: Dark

Mouth Color: Green or dark

Surface Texture: Smooth or nearly smooth

Pattern: Splatter

Lava Lamp

Lava Lamp

Fast growing Discosoma that only reaches 1" in size. Capable of bouncing. Place on its own rock if possible as they produce many babies.

Base Color: Blue and purple

Vesicle / Surface Color: Teal

Mouth Color: Blue and purple

Surface Texture: Smooth with bumps

Pattern: Rings of color centered around mouth

Neptune Bounce

Neptune Bounce

Mushrooms typically stay 1" or less in size. Large vesicles give this Discosoma the bounce title. Reproduces quickly.

Base Color: Blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Peach

Mouth Color: Blue to Purple

Surface Texture: Smooth with bumps

Pattern: Fine lines and vesicle bumps

Red Devil

Red Devil

Blue base with red vesicles. Base can be two tone blue and vesicles can also be pink.

Base Color: Blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Red

Mouth Color: Blue

Surface Texture: Smooth with small bumps

Pattern: Polka dots

Rhodactis Mushrooms

Rhodactis mushrooms typically have a more textured oral disc covered with small tentacles or vesicles. Some collector Rhodactis develop greatly enlarged vesicles and are commonly sold as Bounce mushrooms, including popular varieties such as OG Bounce and Sunkist Bounce.

Bullseye Mushroom

Bullseye Mushroom

These mushrooms have a rough texture and come in a variety of colors. They often have a patchwork color pattern.

Base Color: Usually blue or green

Vesicle / Surface Color: Gold, orange, red, and other

Mouth Color: Various

Surface Texture: Rough

Pattern: Patchwork or outer ring of color

Gonzo's Golden Dragon Bounce

Gonzo's Golden Dragon Bounce

Small, fast growing variety of bounce Rhodactis. Grows to 1" max before splitting. Produces many babies and is hardy.

Base Color: Blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Gold, Green, Pink

Mouth Color: Blue

Surface Texture: Very rough with vesicles

Jersey Bounce

Jersey Bounce

True orange and blue vesicles on a dark teal base. Harder bounce to find after being more available in the past.

Base Color: Dark Teal

Vesicle / Surface Color: Orange and blue

Mouth Color: Dark Teal

Surface Texture: Rough with vesicles

Maui Wowie

Maui Wowie

Brighter than standard Rhodactis. Easy to care for and relatively fast growing.

Base Color: Teal

Vesicle / Surface Color: Yellowish green and orange

Mouth Color: Yellowish green

Surface Texture: Rough

OG Bounce

OG Bounce

Neon Green and Orange vesicles that can reach huge size. Can grow to be up to 6" across. Very difficult to get to split naturally so coral is frequently produced by cutting frags.

Base Color: Teal

Vesicle / Surface Color: Neon orange and green

Mouth Color: Teal

Surface Texture: Rough with large vesicles

Raunchy Red Bounce

Raunchy Red Bounce

Same color as a superman mushroom but bouncing.

Base Color: Blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Reddish orange

Mouth Color: Blue

Surface Texture: Bumpy

Sunkist Bounce

Sunkist Bounce

Fast Growing Bounce Mushroom that can be purchased at a fraction of the price of an OG bounce.

Base Color: Dark teal

Vesicle / Surface Color: Orange

Mouth Color: Dark Teal

Surface Texture: Rough with Vesicles

Superman Rhodactis

Superman Rhodactis

Reddish orange texture on blue base. Hardy and relatively fast growing.

Base Color: Blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Reddish orange

Mouth Color: Blue

Surface Texture: Rough

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise

Bright green base with gold pattern that really glows under blue LED's. Hardy and reasonably fast growing. Has been known to bounce.

Base Color: Neon Green

Vesicle / Surface Color: Golden Orange

Mouth Color: Neon Green

Surface Texture: Rough

Pattern: Patchwork

Ricordea Yuma Mushrooms

Ricordea yuma mushrooms are known for their densely packed, rounded vesicles that extend across the oral disc and toward the mouth. Yumas occur in an exceptionally wide range of colors and multicolor combinations, making them popular collector mushrooms in reef aquariums.

Bubbly / Deepwater / Gumball

Bubbly / Deepwater / Gumball

This variety doesn't have an agreed-upon name yet. These three trade names are also sometimes applied to otherwise typical Yuma varieties, so they should not be treated as standardized classifications. The surface of these yumas is crowded with relatively larger vesicles.

Base Color: Various

Vesicle / Surface Color: Various

Mouth Color: Neon green or yellow

Surface Texture: Very bubbly

Pattern: none or spoke pattern

Miami Hurricane Yuma

Miami Hurricane Yuma

Bright neon green with green or blue pattern and a neon green mouth. Easier to keep than most Ricordea yuma varieties.

Base Color: Green or blue

Vesicle / Surface Color: Neon Orange

Mouth Color: Neon green

Surface Texture: Bumpy

Pattern: Splatter or outer orange ring with darker center

Rainbow Yuma

Rainbow Yuma

Ricordea yuma occur in a wide variety of color combinations, including specimens displaying a rainbow of colors in a single coral. Because relatively few Yuma color varieties have standardized trade names, many multicolor specimens are simply sold as ‘Rainbow Yuma.’

Base Color: Various

Vesicle / Surface Color: Various

Mouth Color: Various

Surface Texture: Bubbly

Yellow Yuma Mushroom

Yellow Yuma Mushroom

True yellow coloration is hard to find in corals. The yellow yuma is a true yellow and not to be mistaken for yellowish green yumas passed off as "yellow". The yellow yumas pictured are hardier than many yuma mushrooms.

Base Color: Usually dark blue, occasionally teal or orange

Vesicle / Surface Color: Yellow

Mouth Color: Yellow or neon green

Surface Texture: Bumpy

How to Identify Mushroom Corals

Mushroom coral identification is best based on a combination of characteristics rather than color alone. Start by looking at the texture of the oral disc, the size and shape of the vesicles or surface structures, the appearance of the mouth area, and the overall growth form. Color and pattern can then help narrow down the variety.

Discosoma mushrooms typically have smoother oral discs, while Rhodactis mushrooms generally have a more textured surface. Some Rhodactis develop enlarged vesicles and are commonly referred to as Bounce mushrooms. Ricordea yuma are characterized by densely packed rounded vesicles extending across the oral disc, including the area around the mouth.

Identifying a specific trade-name variety can be more difficult. Names such as Jawbreaker, Eclectus, Bounce and Rainbow Yuma are based largely on appearance and hobby lineage rather than standardized scientific classifications. Lighting can also dramatically affect how fluorescent pigments appear, so comparing multiple characteristics and photographs is more reliable than identifying a mushroom by color alone.

Looking for Mushroom Corals?

Once you've identified the type you're looking for, browse our Mushroom Corals for Sale to see currently available Discosoma, Rhodactis, Ricordea Yuma, Bounce, Jawbreaker, Eclectus and other mushroom corals. Many Lucky Corals mushrooms are individually photographed so you can compare the color, pattern and appearance of the coral available for purchase.