Elephant Ear Mushroom Just Tried to Eat My Potters Angel!!

Scott07 · 10/04/2017, 05:46 PM

Whoaaaaa what the heck was that!! My large elephant ear mushroom just closed completely around my curious potters completely entrapping him. It happened quickly, almost like watching a venus flytrap close. After a minute I went in with tongs, pried it back open some, and he came rocketing out! And now... 10 minutes later lol... he's curious and exploring again. Is this common behavior for the mushroom? Are they known to eat fish? Or was this some kind of freak occurrence?

mcgyvr · 10/04/2017, 05:55 PM

Welcome to marine life..
Quite common..

Scott07 · 10/04/2017, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

Welcome to marine life..
Quite common..

Interesting... I've had the mushroom for a couple of years now and not had an issue. The potters, who is new, is the first fish I've seen trigger that sort of response from it. I guess I'll keep an eye on the situation and remove if necessary.

ca1ore · 10/04/2017, 06:39 PM

Yeah, they're cool but tough on fish sometimes. Haven't had one for a while, but when I did it would try to eat my clowns. Fortunately they were tougher.

nereefpat · 10/05/2017, 07:30 AM

That specific mushroom gets huge and dangerous. Think of it more like an anemone.

slash7 · 10/05/2017, 08:55 AM

I lost a Potters Angel to one of those. Apparently they produce a chemical that is like a narcotic to fish. That angel isn't just curious, it's getting high. In it's stupor, it will eventually be consumed.

Redseadragon12 · 10/05/2017, 11:21 AM

thats pretty interested I didnt know they actually drug the fish LOL wow what a terrible way to go out.

Shia · 10/05/2017, 01:11 PM

Would have loved to see a video of this. Have a camcorder ready just in case the potters gets too curious again.

Scott07 · 10/05/2017, 04:09 PM

wow, ok i did not realize this mushroom was that aggressive lol. I've always been more concerned with my rock flower and maxi mini anemones. The potters is rather small, inch and a half maybe... So i think my course of action right now will be to watch the situation until he gets bigger and isn't as vulnerable. If it comes down to it i will clearly remove the mushroom.... I love this little potters too much. Also.... should it happen again I will try and quickly get a video lol.

jrhupp · 10/05/2017, 09:21 PM

Years ago I had one eat a full grown watchman goby. Thought it was fluke the first time I saw it close up around the fish. I pulled the fish out that time and he was fine for about a month before the mushroom caught him again.

I'm thinking that you probably want to create some physical barrier between the mushroom and the angle. Or just pull the mushroom.

I don't know how big yours is, but mine was maybe 8 or 10 inches in diameter at the time it got the goby. So if yours is smaller than that, it may not matter too much if the fish gets a bit bigger.

10/04/2017, 05:46 PM	#1
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	Elephant Ear Mushroom Just Tried to Eat My Potters Angel!! Whoaaaaa what the heck was that!! My large elephant ear mushroom just closed completely around my curious potters completely entrapping him. It happened quickly, almost like watching a venus flytrap close. After a minute I went in with tongs, pried it back open some, and he came rocketing out! And now... 10 minutes later lol... he's curious and exploring again. Is this common behavior for the mushroom? Are they known to eat fish? Or was this some kind of freak occurrence? __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

10/04/2017, 05:55 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Welcome to marine life.. Quite common.. __________________ Who me?

10/04/2017, 06:39 PM	#4
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Yeah, they're cool but tough on fish sometimes. Haven't had one for a while, but when I did it would try to eat my clowns. Fortunately they were tougher. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/05/2017, 07:30 AM	#5
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	That specific mushroom gets huge and dangerous. Think of it more like an anemone. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

10/05/2017, 08:55 AM	#6
slash7 Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 70	I lost a Potters Angel to one of those. Apparently they produce a chemical that is like a narcotic to fish. That angel isn't just curious, it's getting high. In it's stupor, it will eventually be consumed. __________________ Slash! Current Tank Info: 58 Reef: mostly LPS and softies. 30 gal. Oceanic cube: Haddoni anemone with false percs, leathers. 20 gal. Innovative Marine AIO Nano:This little tank is doing so much better than expected. Mixed SPS and LPS.

10/05/2017, 11:21 AM	#7
Redseadragon12 In Memoriam Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 308	thats pretty interested I didnt know they actually drug the fish LOL wow what a terrible way to go out.

10/05/2017, 01:11 PM	#8
Shia Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 981 Blog Entries: 1	Would have loved to see a video of this. Have a camcorder ready just in case the potters gets too curious again.

10/05/2017, 04:09 PM	#9
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	wow, ok i did not realize this mushroom was that aggressive lol. I've always been more concerned with my rock flower and maxi mini anemones. The potters is rather small, inch and a half maybe... So i think my course of action right now will be to watch the situation until he gets bigger and isn't as vulnerable. If it comes down to it i will clearly remove the mushroom.... I love this little potters too much. Also.... should it happen again I will try and quickly get a video lol. __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

10/05/2017, 09:21 PM	#10
jrhupp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 318	Years ago I had one eat a full grown watchman goby. Thought it was fluke the first time I saw it close up around the fish. I pulled the fish out that time and he was fine for about a month before the mushroom caught him again. I'm thinking that you probably want to create some physical barrier between the mushroom and the angle. Or just pull the mushroom. I don't know how big yours is, but mine was maybe 8 or 10 inches in diameter at the time it got the goby. So if yours is smaller than that, it may not matter too much if the fish gets a bit bigger. __________________ Current build thread : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2547305 I ate a jellyfish... tasted like soy sauce. Current Tank Info: 180 gallon system in progress