I have had this coral since I set my tank up. It hitchhiked on the LR and must be hardy since it made it through the sandstorm and was half buried. I always thought it was a mushroom because it was mushroom shaped and was on a stem. When we were moving my tank my son picked up the piece of LR that it was on and the top fell off! Luckily it fell before it came out of the water but imagine my surprise when I picked up the top and found out it was a stony coral.

I now think that it is a Favia or Fungia. I just nestled the top in a piece of the LR it is open, eating and it seems happy. The base is still attached to its piece of LR. What should I do? Super glue the top to the piece of LR or just let it attach on its own? Do you think that another will grow from the base?

Here is a picture of the top. The bottom is turned away from the front and I can't get a good shot. I think that I will be moving my tank back into the living room on Monday so I will position the rock so I can get a decent image.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f198/CarmieJo/DSC_3472.jpg

Hi Carmie,
Not Favia,but 99% sure it's a short tentacle plate coral(Fungia repanda).
I've seen 'em grow bulbous like that although they usually appear Flat,like a well...plate.;) .
Great coral,I have an orange one that a goby kept burying one side,it's said the only coral that has the ability to actually move about the tank,when kept on the sandbed.
Great hitchhiker,you get your rock locally or online?
All the best,
Larry.

I agree, sure looks like a Fungia to me.

Sweet hitchhiker!

I got it locally. I guess that I don't need to worry about gluing it, right?

No glue. If it appears to be happy where it is,best to leave it alone.One of my LFS has a plate coral perched in the live rock,so on the sandbed or in the rock seems to work out for this coral.
Lookin' at the pic again,I'd say he's one happy coral!
My LR is just over one year old,and it's just amazing the life appearing out of it that wasn't there(or actually not visible)6 months ago.Gotta love this hobby!!
All the best,
Larry.

It's funny about things appearing. My tank has been up for about a year an a half. I have never had apstasia in my tank and yesterday there one was with its tentacles sticking up out of a piece of LR that has been in the tank all the long. I got the kalk paste right our and blasted it. Now how could have it been dormant all that time? Weird, huh?

i cant see your pics CJ, but im sure its lovely. fungia is un-stated coral in my opinion. adaptation at it height! trully remarkable animals. they wander from time to time, not due only to flows , substraites or lighting, but also for spawn & food testing grounds. i dont know how big it is ATM, so id suggest when its settled to semi clear the surounding area some-what, they can grow & inflate to quite large sizes.

as far as you your apst discovery, it only takes the Swiss Cheeze Effect (ideal conditions to line up) & your off & racing with populations you never new existed or introduced. watch for overspray when injecting the calk though CJ.

Carmie,
Those pesky Aptasia are obviously a "package deal" with your plate coral.
Hitchikers come in many shapes and sizes.
I hit mine with Joe's Juice,and,if not removed completely(Friendly Turkey baster)
will grow back.Mine tend to be in the "removable" stage the next morning.
I've yet to have one "sting" any of my corals....
And yes...he was in the rock all along.I've heard of Brain Coral appearing years after the fact.Very,very cool.

I had to hit the apstasia with kalk again the next day but It seems like it has stayed gone this time.

I have been researching this coral and Calfo, Fenner, et al at WetWebMedia unanimously agree that these corals MUST be kept on a sandy substrate. Otherwise as they cycle their polyps they will become abraded and surely die.

This also makes me wonder if the stem it was on was a defense mechanism?