{"product_id":"orange-st-thomas-mushroom","title":"Orange St Thomas Mushroom","description":"\u003ch2\u003eSt. Thomas Mushroom \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#f7f8f8; border-top:1px solid #dce3e5; padding:12px 14px; font-size:13px; color:#68777c; line-height:1.6;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: #46545b;\"\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is a general description of the species — the specific specimen you receive may vary in color, size, and appearance.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe St. Thomas Mushroom (\u003cem\u003eRhodactis sanctithomae\u003c\/em\u003e) is one of the rarest, most visually dramatic, and most coveted mushroom corals in the entire saltwater hobby. \u003cstrong\u003eA bubble-covered disc with prominent raised vesicles and bulb-tipped tentacles glows across some of the most vivid colors in the coral trade — deep blue and purple bases contrasted against fiery red, orange, and tangerine polyps, with the classic premium expression combining a deep sapphire blue base with electric red bulb tips\u003c\/strong\u003e — a color signature completely unlike any other mushroom coral available in the hobby. Native exclusively to the reefs surrounding St. Thomas and the wider Caribbean, this species is one of the most genuinely scarce mushrooms in the entire trade — the kind of specimen serious mushroom collectors actively hunt for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes the St. Thomas Mushroom such a prized collector piece is the combination of extraordinary color saturation, dramatic vesicle-covered surface texture, and genuine rarity of origin. \u003cstrong\u003eSt. Thomas mushrooms are wild-collected almost exclusively from Caribbean reefs and rarely appear in mainstream livestock shipments\u003c\/strong\u003e — the kind of coral that anchors a curated soft coral collection or Caribbean biotope display. Mature specimens can expand to 3 to 4 inches across, giving each mushroom dramatic showpiece presence on the rockwork, and the vivid fluorescent red and orange coloration under actinic reef lighting is unmatched by any other mushroom in the trade. Despite its rarity and premium pricing, St. Thomas mushrooms are legitimately beginner-friendly to keep — hardy, adaptable, and forgiving of typical reef parameters once given the correct low-light placement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#173f4b; margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eAvailable Options\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border-top:1px solid #d8e1e3; border-bottom:1px solid #d8e1e3;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex; gap:18px; padding:14px 0;\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"width:155px; flex:0 0 155px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"display:inline-block; font-weight:700; color:#173f4b; background:#eef5f5; padding:4px 8px; border-radius:4px;\"\u003eSt. Thomas Mushroom — Single\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"color:#536369; line-height:1.55;\"\u003eOne St. Thomas Mushroom ( Rhodactis sanctithomae ) — exact color and morph selected from current availability. Vesicle-covered disc with bulb-tipped tentacles and dramatic Caribbean color saturation. Reef-safe soft coral — provide light spacing from delicate neighbors. Grows into a dramatic 3 to 4 inch premium showpiece at maturity.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#173f4b; margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eCare Information\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; border:1px solid #dce4e6; font-size:14px;\"\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #dce4e6;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003eLighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003eLow to Moderate (PAR 50–120) — avoid intense lighting\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #dce4e6;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003eWater Flow\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003eLow to Moderate — gentle, indirect flow preferred\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #dce4e6;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003ePlacement\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003eMid to lower rockwork or sandbed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #dce4e6;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003eCare Level\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003eEasy — beginner-friendly collector-grade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #dce4e6;\"\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003ePeaceful — provide light spacing from delicate neighbors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width:32%; padding:10px 12px; font-weight:700; color:#304a54; background:#f3f6f7;\"\u003eFeeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"padding:10px 12px; color:#526168;\"\u003ePhotosynthetic — benefits from occasional target feeding\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#173f4b; margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003eSpecial Considerations\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background:#faf9f3; border:1px solid #e4dfc9; border-left:4px solid #aa9b60; border-radius:6px; padding:13px 15px; color:#425158; line-height:1.65;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSt. Thomas Mushrooms prefer low to moderate lighting and can lose color or bleach under intense reef lighting — place in shaded lower rockwork or sandbed positions rather than high-light peaks.\u003c\/strong\u003e The vivid fluorescent red and orange coloration reads most dramatically under actinic and blue-heavy reef lighting, though direct high-intensity white spectrum can cause bleaching. Provide gentle, low-velocity flow to allow full disc expansion; direct high-flow placement will prevent the mushroom from opening fully. St. Thomas mushrooms derive nearly all of their nutrition from photosynthesis, though they will readily accept target feeding of mysis, small pieces of shrimp, or coral feeding preparations to accelerate growth and color development. Unlike smooth Discosoma mushrooms, St. Thomas mushrooms can lightly sting delicate neighboring corals in direct contact — provide 2 to 3 inches of spacing from other coral species. St. Thomas mushrooms can occasionally detach and drift to a new location if unhappy with placement conditions — this is normal behavior and the mushroom will typically settle in a new spot within days. Maintain stable water parameters and elevated nutrients (nitrate 5-15 ppm, phosphate 0.05-0.15 ppm) — St. Thomas mushrooms specifically dislike ultra-low nutrient systems.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#173f4b; margin-bottom:12px;\"\u003e🔍 Aquarium Insights\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe St. Thomas Mushroom is one of the rarest and most visually dramatic mushroom corals available to reef keepers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top:0; padding-left:20px; color:#495b62; line-height:1.75;\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBubble-covered vesicled disc with bulb-tipped tentacles — one of the most textured and dimensional mushroom silhouettes in the hobby\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNative to Caribbean reefs — genuinely rare in the trade and unlike any Indo-Pacific mushroom species\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA premium collector-grade Caribbean mushroom that combines fluorescent color saturation with beginner-friendly hardiness — the crown jewel of the Rhodactis family for serious mushroom collectors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 style=\"color:#173f4b; margin-bottom:7px;\"\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: 0;\"\u003eFor detailed species information, compatibility, and care tips, visit our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.macroalgaefarms.com\/pages\/species-library\" style=\"color: #1d5c78;\"\u003eSpecies Library\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"background: #f6f8f9; border: 1px solid #dde4e7; border-left: 4px solid #8a98a0; border-radius: 10px; padding: 13px 15px; font-size: 13px; color: #607078; line-height: 1.65;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong style=\"color: #46545b;\"\u003eLivestock Disclaimer\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 8px 0 10px;\"\u003eDue to natural variation, the St. Thomas Mushroom you receive will be selected based on current availability and may range across the full spectrum of colors and morphs available in this species — including deep blue and purple bases with red, orange, or tangerine polyps; solid red, blue, or orange expressions; and green-blue combinations. Specific color and morph cannot be guaranteed and are determined at packing time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\"\u003ePhotographs are representative examples. Individual specimens may vary in size, disc diameter, vesicle density, and color expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin: 0;\"\u003eAs with all live animals, proper acclimation and a suitable, established environment are essential for best results.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Macroalgae Farms","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49525690040579,"sku":null,"price":103.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0667\/7151\/7699\/files\/hf_20260827_044916_16ced15a-4bdd-40db-9350-ec918e36dbe6.jpg?v=1787806666","url":"https:\/\/www.macroalgaefarms.com\/products\/orange-st-thomas-mushroom","provider":"Macroalgae Farms","version":"1.0","type":"link"}