Frilly Mushroom removal

megelBeagle · Post by **megelBeagle** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 8:52 am

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove a frilly mushroom without mangling it? I have a population control issue and want to give some to some friends.

Amphiprion · Post by **Amphiprion** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:09 am

There are several ways to do it, but all simply involve creating non-ideal conditions for the mushroom. Two common ways are using a powerhead aimed directly at the mushroom until it decides to drop off. The other is using a bag with some ice cubes to do the same. A combination of both would probably help also. Of course, there's my way, which doesn't necessarily mangle it, but is a bit more invasive: I just snip them off as close to the base as possible. The only issue there is that it is often difficult to do that effectively with some frilly mushroom species. BTW, they all seem to recover exceptionally fast with this method.

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:12 am

I found that a hammer and chisle works well also!

steveanddanni · Post by **steveanddanni** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:19 am

The problem with cutting them off at the base is that if there is any part of it left it will regenerate into numerous new mushrooms.Ask me how i know.

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:53 am

Actually I think the problem is putting them in a tank in the first place.

Its almost as bad as putting green star polyps in a tank.

If you chisle a big enough chunk out of the rock you don't need to worry about leaving little ones behind, but the ones you don't remove will eventully fill in the empty spot.

DrHank · Post by **DrHank** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:51 pm

If you snip them off at the base with a sharp pair of sissors they will definately do well in your friends tanks. They will also return (regrow) in yours. If they become too numerous there is always selling or trading the mushroom rock.

Post by **snoopdog** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:55 am

Propane torch.

megelBeagle · Post by **megelBeagle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 9:33 am

I regret putting that first mushroom in the my tank in the first place. I was new to the hobby at the time. I think I may take the rock out with the mushrooms on it. The other mushrooms are fine...the "non-frilly" ones. They don't like the light to much, so that limits them to the shadows.
I think I need to give my friends fair warning before I start handing out frags.
So...say that I want to get these guys out of the tank. I remove one rock and thats 95% of them. But there are 2 little chunks of mushroom that have made it to other rocks. Is there I way I can...um....err..."dispose" of these "baby" shrooms before they grow up?
Can I inject Kalk or something like that? I have been unsuccessful with the powerhead or ice cube method of removal.
I am rehesitant to employ the "blow torch" or "chisel" methods

suggested since there are other critters on the rock that I like.

Fishfood · Post by **Fishfood** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:02 am

The chisle method is not that bad. If you just take the rock out of the tank and set the chisle near the base of the shroom and tap away until the rock break. I have had instances where the entire rock broke in half because I used a little to much force but some rocks are harder than other. The Fiji and other rock from over there in the pacific is usually fairly brittle so i wouldn't pound too hard. If you have that florida aquaculture stuff you might need a jackhammer.