Moving mushrooms

[schlitz]

I have some mushrooms that are taking over a zoa garden and I would like to move some of them. In fact, I may move them to a different tank. How difficult is this? What is the proper way to remove them from a rock without permanently damaging them?

 

[ahiggins]

I get a flatened "scoopula" type thing and dig out the rock right under their foot. Sometimes you will see their mesenterial filaments if you tear the foot but give them some rubble to reattach to in a low flow area (I use a glass beaker in a low flow zone so they cant fly away) for about 3 weeks. I have about 50/50 luck with gluing them, some will slime up too much, some wont. Then you can transplant, if you will.
Note: most mushrooms, if you leave a piece of their base, they will regrow wherever that foot is.

 

[cloak]

The best way to remove a mushroom IME is to cut it as close to the base as you can with some sharp scissors. The top portion can be left in a bowl of rubble until it attaches and the bottom half will most likely grow back if conditions are right. You can also smother this remaining tissue with some epoxy if you don't want the mushrooms coming back at all.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-06/ac/feature/index.php

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/ac/feature/index.php

 

[taintstick]

If your trying to remove them with out leaving a foot, because if you leave the foot, no point in removing it because it will just grow back. Get a turkey baster or a fine pipette and blast the foot with it. Eventually it will start to lift up the foot to where you can scoop off. Another way, gotta act fast unless rock was removed, a cube of ice and rubbing the foot will release it. Takes a little patience for both methods, but have worked.