Long Polyp Toadstool Coral (Sarcophyton spp.)

​Looking for a peaceful centerpiece that brings incredible movement and vibrant colour to your reef? The Green Long Polyp Toadstool is an absolute must-have.

​While standard Toadstools have short, bumpy polyps, this highly sought-after variety features incredibly long, flowing polyps that extend from a mushroom-like crown. Under blue actinic lighting, the neon green polyps absolutely glow, swaying beautifully in the current like a field of grass blowing in the wind. As the coral matures, the thick stalk will grow and the crown will develop beautiful, natural folds and waves.

​At UKReef Hampshire, we love the Green Long Polyp Toadstool because it gives you the mesmerizing movement of an LPS (like a Torch or Hammer coral) but with the extreme hardiness and peaceful nature of a soft coral. It is perfect for beginners and a stunning addition for advanced collectors alike!

​Quick Care Guide:

​Care Level: Easy. They are incredibly resilient, fast-growing, and forgiving of minor water chemistry fluctuations.

​Temperament: Peaceful, but sneaky! They do not have stinging tentacles, but like all leather corals, they can release natural compounds into the water to secure their growing space. We recommend running activated carbon in your filtration if keeping them near stony corals.

​Placement: Low to Middle. Give them plenty of room! They can grow into massive, stunning centerpieces, so ensure their crown won't be shaded by overhead rockwork as they expand.

​Lighting: Moderate to High. They are adaptable, but moderate-to-high lighting will encourage the absolute best neon green coloration and maximum polyp extension.

​Water Flow: Moderate to Strong. This is highly important! They need a good, varied breeze to keep the polyps dancing and to assist them during their natural shedding phase (see note below).

​Feeding: Fully photosynthetic. They do not require direct target feeding. They get everything they need from your reef lights and by filtering dissolved nutrients from the water column.

​💡 UKReef Hampshire Pro-Tip (The "Shedding" Phase): Don't panic! Every few weeks, your Toadstool will retract all its long green polyps, shrink down slightly, and develop a shiny, waxy film over its crown. It is not dying! It is simply shedding a layer of skin to clean itself of algae and detritus. With good water flow, this film will peel away after a few days, and the polyps will return longer and brighter than before!