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Discosoma Mushrooms - nice looking but still to be avoided?

Kessil

Should I add these mushrooms?

  • As long as it looks great, it will be fine.

  • No, you will create a problem later.

  • I’m not sure, but I had a similar question.


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I am debating whether to add 3 or 4 of these bright orange discosomas already encrusted into the main display tank - currently in quarantine. What do you guys think? A good idea? Added a poll for easier feedback :).

IMG_7355.jpeg
 
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yes add them. they do not need as bright light as the sticks and like lesser flow. If you see them standing up, then they are unhappy. if they fully spread out, happy. i feed mine some brine and plankton. my mushrooms liked the bright light but these guys did not. that was a learning curve for me.

also if you have anything that can move structures like pistol shrimp (especially!), pencil urchins or big hermits, they can be pushed off unless you glue them since they are fairly light to move.
 
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I regret putting them in mine :p I get floaters that attach in different places and sting coral so I'm constantly fighting them back with a majano wand. Where I do want them though they add a bright patch of color. One in a hundred I get some cool green streaks but mostly they're all orange.
I did regret adding tequila sunrise mushrooms,
 
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Biggest regret is having any mushroom type coral- including Yumas -just invasive little SOB’s. Not as bad as blue cloves but still..
 
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I personally don't mind them. I've never had them take over. Yet granted I've never placed them on one of my main rock structures. I kinda treat them like zoas and give them there own little rock. Or area on the crushed coral.

However I've seen many. Cases of them becoming a plague in other people's tanks. Many types are far worse than others.

A better question is which mushrooms to avoid. Off the top of my head I say the green hairy mushrooms, and those plain purple mushrooms. Others will likely have different mushrooms they would say to avoid. No right or wrong answer here.


Personally I've been. Trying to get the tequilla sunrise to take off same with the Jawbreakers no major luck with them yet.
 
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I personally don't mind them. I've never had them take over. Yet granted I've never placed them on one of my main rock structures. I kinda treat them like zoas and give them there own little rock. Or area on the crushed coral.

However I've seen many. Cases of them becoming a plague in other people's tanks. Many types are far worse than others.

A better question is which mushrooms to avoid. Off the top of my head I say the green hairy mushrooms, and those plain purple mushrooms. Others will likely have different mushrooms they would say to avoid. No right or wrong answer here.


Personally I've been. Trying to get the tequilla sunrise to take off same with the Jawbreakers no major luck with them yet.

what do the purple mushrooms end up doing?
 
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what do the purple mushrooms end up doing?
taking over your tank. honestly they are more problematic than aiptasia.you can literally dice them up into pieces and most pieces will form new mushrooms. so just cutting them off the rock doesn't work. and they split and reproduce FAST
 
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what do the purple mushrooms end up doing?
Screenshot_20260425_123611_Google.jpg
Screenshot_20260425_123359_Google.jpg


A few examples of them being invasive. Some mushrooms discosoma for sure can easily release from the rock float elsewhere and rapidly spread. Like Kenya trees or plusing xenia can.

Rhodactis, yuma, and alot of the bonuce mushrooms can also release but rarely do. They split or tear of portions of their feet which grows into another mushroom. They very rarely ever appear in other areas of the tank where they weren't originally placed. So putting them on a island is effective in most cases.

The more invasive mushrooms just appear everywhere split more often and leave behind portions of themselves forming more mushrooms. With potential to become a true plague if un managed.
 
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View attachment 79136View attachment 79137

A few examples of them being invasive. Some mushrooms discosoma for sure can easily release from the rock float elsewhere and rapidly spread. Like Kenya trees or plusing xenia can.

Rhodactis, yuma, and alot of the bonuce mushrooms can also release but rarely do. They split or tear of portions of their feet which grows into another mushroom. They very rarely ever appear in other areas of the tank where they weren't originally placed. So putting them on a island is effective in most cases.

The more invasive mushrooms just appear everywhere split more often and leave behind portions of themselves forming more mushrooms. With potential to become a true plague if un managed.

whoa!!!! i have not had this problem with mushrooms. then again, i have a pistol shrimp aka gollum that takes everything underground.
 
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whoa!!!! i have not had this problem with mushrooms. then again, i have a pistol shrimp aka gollum that takes everything underground.
Look at the tank they are coming from. It's a good indicator if they will be invasive. Are they tightly grouped in 1-2 areas? Or are they dispersed all over the tank and don't appear intentionally placed.

Have they completely taken over a rock structure. Of they are limited to a single structure chances are placed on a smaller rock they could be contained.

Just cause things are free doesn't make them a good score.


Not any rules here just something to always consider for mushrooms or potentially invasive corals in general for that mater.
 
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