how to identify mushrooms?

[mimo91088]

Hey all. New to the site here, been lurking for awhile.

I was wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of a resource or tell me how to identify the different species of mushroom corals and tell them apart?

I don't want to be "that guy" posting and asking for a bunch of individual identification requests. I'd like it if someone is willing to teach me to tell for myself!

Thanks in advance!

 

[sfin52]

Welcome to Reef2reef . I buy mushrooms and hope lfs is correct.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Welcome to Reef2reef!

In all honesty, google can be your best friend (and enemy).
Mushrooms come in only a few family’s. Each family has several members who share the same traits.
If you begin to recognize those traits , ID becomes a lot easier.
Ie , green discoma


http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Mushroom-Anemones

As far as common names and fancy sales names, that’s a whole other ball of wax.

 

[mimo91088]

Yea I was more curious about rhodactis vs discosoma vs ricordea than the various designer names. Even after like 2 hours of googling I'm still clueless!

 

[cristata.reef]

It's actually very easy

Discosoma is basically any smooth mushroom although many have rounded tubercles. They may have grooves, small bumps, etc but are generally "smooth". The name Actinodiscus was formerly used as well but it is no longer a taxonomically correct term

Ricordea always has large tubercles that are ball shaped.
R. florida has the same shaped tubercles pretty much all around (more dense)
R. yuma has smaller tubercles with radiating lines of larger ones (more sparse)

Rhodactis for the most part is characterized by small triangular or oval projections at the edge of the skirt. They are "bumpy" in appearance and almost appear to be fuzzy

There are other corallimorph genera in the wild which I'd be happy to talk about but they are so rare in the aquarium hobby, that it's really not worth it

 

[mimo91088]

Excellent reply, thank you! How clear is the skirt thing on rhodactis? One of mine is very bumpy, almost looks bounced, with not much smooth area on the disc at all. I thought discosoma were mostly smooth. But the edges don't look spiked at all either. It has me stumped.

 

[cristata.reef]

Excellent reply, thank you! How clear is the skirt thing on rhodactis? One of mine is very bumpy, almost looks bounced, with not much smooth area on the disc at all. I thought discosoma were mostly smooth. But the edges don't look spiked at all either. It has me stumped.

Post the pic! I'll ID it

 

[mimo91088]

 

[mimo91088]

You know what, I'll be "that guy", do you mind trying to identify all 3 new ones?
Here's 2 more pics. Thanks!

 

[sfin52]

Sometimes it's just easier

You know what, I'll be "that guy", do you mind trying to identify all 3 new ones?
Here's 2 more pics. Thanks!

 

[cristata.reef]

First one is a bouncing Discosoma (you got lucky with that one; see if it'll color up). 2nd are either really bumpy discos or some unhappy Ricordea yuma. Last pic has discos as well

 

[mimo91088]

Thanks a bunch!
As for the color, I'm hoping i see improvement after I get it in some blue light for awhile. I have been using just plain white leds. I am getting in a nicrew led with blues in it delivered Monday. I know it's not a fancy light by any means, but blue leds and blue/white mix should be fine for shrooms right?

 

[cristata.reef]

Should be fine. Make sure nitrates are lowish (not too low) and they have some nice light but not being bleached

 

[incarnato]

Need I’d also please.

 

[FUNGI]

This is a great guide:

A Guide To Aquarium Mushroom Corals

A Guide To Aquarium Mushroom CoralsMushroom Corals are a small group with an outsized influence in the aquarium hobby. For novice reef aquarists, these are oftentimes the first coral to be recommended, and rightfully so. They are colorful, easy to care for, pose little danger to other organisms...

www.qualitymarine.com

QM is an importer, so the source is pretty good.....

 

[incarnato]

Thanks Fungi, it seems the green ones are Rhodactis but wondering if the folded wrinkles are normal, they are always like that. I think the blue is disco but it has a few bumps so unsure.