Mushroom Ate my Clown!

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Well here is a new one for me...Noticed a couple days ago that my clownfish had taken to using my large hairy mushroom as a host since I don't have an anemone...Today came down to discover that mushroom had wrapped him up in a blanket last night and consumed him! Here is a pic of before...and then just a few minutes ago. My shrimp is looking for remains, of which there seem to be none...it was a pretty large clown too, one of my first fish

lauderdalestunner · Apr 24, 2017

Wow [emoji15]

reefwiser · Apr 24, 2017

Yes the large so called Elephant ear mushrooms will eat fish. Do not recommend them for tanks with fish in them.

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Had no idea. Got him when he was pretty small. Thought it was actually kind of cool that the clown was using it as a host. Lesson learned

Texas Reefer · Apr 24, 2017

[emoji21]

RezC · Apr 24, 2017

[emoji24]

revhtree · Apr 24, 2017

Dang hate to hear it. Do you have any larger photos?

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Hey man...I don't have any larger than that from this AM...Just this one I took last night...the mushroom on the left side, my soon to be victim Clown is just to right of the top of the tank. The bigger of the pair...

revhtree · Apr 24, 2017

Mark Teitelman said:
Hey man...I don't have any larger than that from this AM...Just this one I took last night...the mushroom on the left side, my soon to be victim Clown is just to right of the top of the tank. The bigger of the pair...

Nice tank though! Sorry about the clown..

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Thanks! I like it, been about 4 months...I guess we are always learning every day about this hobby...that was a new one to me! Honestly had no idea a mushroom could do that!

reefwiser · Apr 24, 2017

I had this happen 25 years ago with a couple of my breeding clown fish. [emoji3]
I always warn LFS when I see one in their tanks to tell people to be aware that they kill fish. They cup upwards and trap the fish inside.

stevo01 · Apr 24, 2017

Sorry for your loss!

A co worker of mine has a female hosting a large lavender hairy mushroom. Has been for a couple years. Why do the mushrooms sometimes eat fish and sometimes don't? Clowns specifically. I now have 2 of these "babies" from his tank. Both have developed bubbles.

cincyreef · Apr 24, 2017

I also had this happen,years ago! I had no clue it was possible. Crazy to see for sure.

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Well it's nice to know that I'm not the only one...I actually really like the mushroom, ironically the reason I've grown to dig it so much is that it reminded me of an anemone, but without the worry of rampaging all over the tank!!! At least it doesn't move...It's still digesting my poor clown, it looks kind of like a snake after too big a meal

Mark Teitelman · Apr 24, 2017

Stevo01 That's a really cool pair you have there...

Scott.h · Apr 24, 2017

Wow.. and here I thought I was going to get through the day without learning something. Crazy.

Solace87 · Apr 24, 2017

stevo01 said:
Sorry for your loss!

A co worker of mine has a female hosting a large lavender hairy mushroom. Has been for a couple years. Why do the mushrooms sometimes eat fish and sometimes don't? Clowns specifically. I now have 2 of these "babies" from his tank. Both have developed bubbles.

The mushroom you posted is not the same kind as the OP. I have had tanks with dozens of those and had zero issues. The elephant ears get much larger and have more control in the way they fold, making trapping fish much easier.

releasetheKraken · Apr 24, 2017

I had an elephant ear mushroom that attempted to eat my yellow watchman goby.My daughter spotted the mushroom already ballooned up with fish panicking and attempting to break out to no avail.I stuck two fingers inside and opened the mushroom and the goby escaped.Next day,the shroom was given away with a warning to the new caretaker.Subsequently,a new one grew from a quarter inch piece of flesh left attached to the rock it was removed from and that mushroom was also removed as it got larger.Lesson learned...fish saved.