I was just wondering if anyone has ever done cuttings of mushroom coral, if so how do I do it, how do I ancor it (supper glue, rubberbands, bridal vail, or what) and what kind of care do I have to give it. Also does anyone know of a good site to get info on cutting corals??

Thanks

Steve

This is the site.  For the mushroom - there are several ways, but I have only used this method.  Take a small glass cup put some sand in the cup, leave about an inch or of space left in the cup and place in a low current part of the tank.  Cut the mushroom at the base and set it in the cup, after about a week the mushroom will have attached to the sand and then you can glue the mushroom to a rock with the sand.  I have heard of using bridal vail, but have not used it.

John "ReefAquarist"

I've had limited success at supergluing cuttings (even with sand attached at the base) to a rock already in the tank.  It works better if I pull the rock out of the tank to glue the cutting on.  Anyone have a good/different method of attaching small shroom cuttings to rock underwater?

One other method that works for me is to take a razerblade and cut a mushroom in half right through the center including the stem.  This leaves two separate (half) mushrooms, both attached to the rock, but very close to each other.  Some types then spread away from each other as they grow.

piston - I've never had the toothpick trick work for me :(  Everytime I try it the shroom just splits and releases before it attaches...maybe I'm doing something wrong?  Also if you want more "production" do as steve suggested and cut the head into 4 to 6 pieces (like slicing a pizza).  That way you end up with 5 - 7 shrooms from one :).

A gel superglue will make it easier for attaching the substrate particle or particles or abandoned shell or small piece of rubble rock that the mushroom attaches itself to.  Or if you want to you can glue it to a shell with a hermit crab in it.  Then you can call it a walking mushroom.   Similar to the walking xenia that was written about, I believe on the GARF site.    

If you want to glue to something that  will not be removed from the tank, you can place the glue on the substrate that's attached  to the mushroom then quickly place and hold it against the rock inside of the tank for a few seconds, they usually stay put. 

You could also cut the mushroom into small pieces so that when they are attached to substrate they can be placed  in nooks and crannies in the live rock where the weight of the substrate helps keep them there until they attach to rock on there own.

Keep your hands and arms inside tank and enjoy the ride.  

 Sorry to dig up such an old string. But, I read this one and performed the recommended surgery on a pink/green fuzzy mushroom and a blue stripe mushroom, both quartered, and just wondered how long I could expect before these little bitty bits o shroom recover some semblance of whole corals?

The full mushroom was about 3" across fully expanded and I only quartered it so the resultant peices are about 1/2" by 1/2" shrunk. And they all have a mouth bit. Actually it's been about three days and they're already recovering. I cut it off the rock pretty close and didn't think I'd left much in the way of a foot. But, the little bits of ring left have started to form 2-3 little mushrooms about pinhead size each. So I guess my first prop. project is a success so far.... Love...This...Hobby

I'll have to post some pics soon!

I will attest to Steve L's success with fragging shrooms. For such a "low light" system it is absolutely amazing how much growth he has. Maybe there's something to be said for not burning Hetal Halides? The technique Steve showed me of snipping off a piece of his green fuzzies (they are all like 8" accross!) and allowing the pieces to attach to sand was just really neat. Steve, thanks for taking the time to demonstrate your methods. By the way Steve, everything seems to be doing great. Still concerned about the Monti, but maybe time will tell.

Chrisslc, I have never heard of anyone having success with xenia and superglue. I would recommend rubber bands or the rock pile method.

This is a great hobby isn't it! 

Did anybody else notice that this thread has posts in it over a year old?

Wow, I can't believe people actually go back and search for old threads.  I'm glad to see they do.

Adam

I can't believe it sat for four months before someone agreed with me! 

Thanks Matt, how is your tank going? Sorry I haven't been chimming in on your posts about your algae problem, I've been superbusy. But it doesn't sound like too big a deal, all tanks go through a few early swings, even with yours being already matured,  the transition could have caused a little die-off that's contributing to excess nutrients that the brown stuff is taking advantage of, Time, water changes, and good nutrient competitors (a macroalgae refuge would do nicely) should bring the tank to a great healthy condition.

and yeah Carl, I've since learned that superglue and soft corals don't mix, and am I the only one who can't get underwater epoxy to stick to LR? I cant get it to bond for Sht.  I've been letting it harden in place and then supergluing both sides of it to the LR since it's custom shaped. I hope it's no just the stuff I'm using, I did buy it at an LFS.

Adam Blundell wrote: Did anybody else notice that this thread has posts in it over a year old? Wow, I can't believe people actually go back and search for old threads.  I'm glad to see they do. Adam

Adam, still searching and learning .