why do mushroom corals do this?

DSMchad · 01/09/2010, 04:39 AM

Ive had these mushroom corals for about 8 months or so.
recently i noticed after the lights go off the one does this...(see pic)
i turned the lights back on to get pictures and it opened back up.
I havent ever seen one close up in a ball like that. I think they are frilly green mushrooms, or something similar.

t00lfan · 01/09/2010, 04:44 AM

My mushrooms do the same. I figured its just a way they close like many corals such as zooanthids do when they do not photosynthesize at night.

DSMchad · 01/09/2010, 04:52 AM

Maybe so, ive just never seen them do that untill the last few weeks.
Maybe it has to do with the fact i cut down my photo period quite a bit, as i just got past a 4 month battle with hair algae.

firebirdcrzy · 01/09/2010, 08:51 AM

Your pic looks like a cup mushroom, that is how the feed by closeing around there food. [URL="http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+598+660&pcatid=660"]

firebirdcrzy · 01/09/2010, 08:52 AM

for some reason my link didn't work. go to liveaquaria.com and type in cup mushroom on there search bar.

budman0418 · 01/09/2010, 10:56 AM

looks like a green hairy mushroom that is not getting enough light. i have a few and they do this when they eat or when a shrimp tries to cross over them. anything that contacts them causes this to happen squirt some food on them and watch them close.they close up to draw the food to their mouth in the center.

spleify · 01/09/2010, 10:58 AM

Yep, could be feeding. Like mentioned, try putting some food in there and see how they react.

tahoe61 · 01/09/2010, 11:00 AM

+1 to feeding.

DSMchad · 01/09/2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman0418

looks like a green hairy mushroom that is not getting enough light.

must be that my photoperiod is still pretty short. Ill feed them some and see if anything happens, and add a couple hours to the timer since the algae problem seems to be well under control finally.

budman0418 · 01/09/2010, 11:14 AM

not sure how long your lights are on and what type of lights you are using,but i have 3x250w MH and 4x 65w PC and they are on the bottom of my 155 tank. they are about 4 inches across and green and white with a mouth that is the size of a dime. they grow pretty quickly.

cdbias2 · 01/09/2010, 11:17 AM

It's not the light!
It's the feeding.
(just like everyone said)
I feed mine a little piece of shrimp occasionally. It takes them about 5 minutes to close.

budman0418 · 01/09/2010, 11:27 AM

just to reclarify my post.... it is definitly the feeding. that is why they are closing. i was just tring to say that he needs more light on them because they look brownish from the pic. they should be green and white.

Jonny Roks · 01/09/2010, 11:55 AM

do you have a Full tank shot so i can see where you have them positioned? also what size is the tank what kind of lights ?

DSMchad · 01/09/2010, 12:56 PM

they are about mid level in a 55 gallon tank, at the highest point because i dont have quite enough rocks yet.
250 watts T5 HO 12,000k plus 2 actinic T5
But like i said short light time, 5-6 hours lately,ive been way way too busy all week to even think about the tank but im gonna increase the light time now.
they have always been brownish green in color, and were less than half that size when i got them, and there were only those 2. probly about 2.5" across now. there is a 3rd one on the back now and 2 small ones on the next rock over about dime size.
They didnt seem to respond to food.

Dave Harms · 01/09/2010, 03:24 PM

There are so many colors of Rhodactis mushrooms (which those look like to me) that I wouldn't worry about their color. I'd say they are eating, mine do that all the time. Kinda weird that yours close up at night and open up when the lights come on though! Either way I wouldn't worry.

Sk8r · 01/09/2010, 05:22 PM

I had one that did that around small perching fishes, particularly at night. Elephant ear mushroom. Cost me 50.00 worth of fishes, including one I was very fond of.

01/09/2010, 04:39 AM	#1
DSMchad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 109	why do mushroom corals do this? Ive had these mushroom corals for about 8 months or so. recently i noticed after the lights go off the one does this...(see pic) i turned the lights back on to get pictures and it opened back up. I havent ever seen one close up in a ball like that. I think they are frilly green mushrooms, or something similar.

01/09/2010, 04:44 AM	#2
t00lfan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 149	mushroom behavior My mushrooms do the same. I figured its just a way they close like many corals such as zooanthids do when they do not photosynthesize at night. __________________ Ocellaris are clowns, and so are people. Current Tank Info: 90 gal. mixed reef tank (SPS, softies, LPS,3 Clams)with 10 gallon fuge and 30 gallon sump. Lighting 2 250 MH 20k radiums with 4 t5 HO ATI(1actinic 1purple and blueplus) Last edited by t00lfan; 01/09/2010 at 04:44 AM. Reason: spell

01/09/2010, 08:51 AM	#4
firebirdcrzy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern Neck, Virginia Posts: 1,096	Your pic looks like a cup mushroom, that is how the feed by closeing around there food. [URL="http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+598+660&pcatid=660"] __________________ My Wife says I have a problem. I responded by saying "if I could seal all the doors and windows, I would fill the whole house with water". Title: The equipment hoarder Current Tank Info: 30gal Clarkii tank: 90 gal RR,2x400w plusrite 22k 2x110w vho super actinic, deltec APF600,Tunze Osmo,2xTunze 6105 on 7095,MRC CR2,Kalk reactor,JBJ artica 1/5hp chiller, ACIII, 24"x24"x12" (30gal) frag tank joined to main tank:

01/09/2010, 08:52 AM	#5
firebirdcrzy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern Neck, Virginia Posts: 1,096	for some reason my link didn't work. go to liveaquaria.com and type in cup mushroom on there search bar. __________________ My Wife says I have a problem. I responded by saying "if I could seal all the doors and windows, I would fill the whole house with water". Title: The equipment hoarder Current Tank Info: 30gal Clarkii tank: 90 gal RR,2x400w plusrite 22k 2x110w vho super actinic, deltec APF600,Tunze Osmo,2xTunze 6105 on 7095,MRC CR2,Kalk reactor,JBJ artica 1/5hp chiller, ACIII, 24"x24"x12" (30gal) frag tank joined to main tank:

01/09/2010, 10:58 AM	#7
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Yep, could be feeding. Like mentioned, try putting some food in there and see how they react. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/09/2010, 04:52 AM	#3
DSMchad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 109	Maybe so, ive just never seen them do that untill the last few weeks. Maybe it has to do with the fact i cut down my photo period quite a bit, as i just got past a 4 month battle with hair algae.

01/09/2010, 10:56 AM	#6
budman0418 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6	looks like a green hairy mushroom that is not getting enough light. i have a few and they do this when they eat or when a shrimp tries to cross over them. anything that contacts them causes this to happen squirt some food on them and watch them close.they close up to draw the food to their mouth in the center.

01/09/2010, 11:00 AM	#8
tahoe61 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: On the state line Posts: 730	mushrooms +1 to feeding.

01/09/2010, 11:14 AM	#10
budman0418 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6	not sure how long your lights are on and what type of lights you are using,but i have 3x250w MH and 4x 65w PC and they are on the bottom of my 155 tank. they are about 4 inches across and green and white with a mouth that is the size of a dime. they grow pretty quickly.

01/09/2010, 11:17 AM	#11
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	It's not the light! It's the feeding. (just like everyone said) I feed mine a little piece of shrimp occasionally. It takes them about 5 minutes to close.

01/09/2010, 11:27 AM	#12
budman0418 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6	just to reclarify my post.... it is definitly the feeding. that is why they are closing. i was just tring to say that he needs more light on them because they look brownish from the pic. they should be green and white.

01/09/2010, 11:55 AM	#13
Jonny Roks Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 119	do you have a Full tank shot so i can see where you have them positioned? also what size is the tank what kind of lights ?

01/09/2010, 12:56 PM	#14
DSMchad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 109	they are about mid level in a 55 gallon tank, at the highest point because i dont have quite enough rocks yet. 250 watts T5 HO 12,000k plus 2 actinic T5 But like i said short light time, 5-6 hours lately,ive been way way too busy all week to even think about the tank but im gonna increase the light time now. they have always been brownish green in color, and were less than half that size when i got them, and there were only those 2. probly about 2.5" across now. there is a 3rd one on the back now and 2 small ones on the next rock over about dime size. They didnt seem to respond to food.

01/09/2010, 03:24 PM	#15
Dave Harms Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 466	There are so many colors of Rhodactis mushrooms (which those look like to me) that I wouldn't worry about their color. I'd say they are eating, mine do that all the time. Kinda weird that yours close up at night and open up when the lights come on though! Either way I wouldn't worry. __________________ Dave Harms Current Tank Info: Established July 2008: 12g Oceanic, 4x 24w T5's, VorTech MP10, Tunze Nano Wavebox 6206, Phosban Reactor w/ BRS GFO powered by a Tunze Silence, Marineland Penguin 350, 50w Stealth heater

01/09/2010, 05:22 PM	#16
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I had one that did that around small perching fishes, particularly at night. Elephant ear mushroom. Cost me 50.00 worth of fishes, including one I was very fond of. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.