Mushroom split ?

radreef02 · Sep 10, 2023

So I’ve had this puppy for about 6 months now and she has no sign of splitting anytime soon and has outgrown its plate. It’s almost 2” across

It’s a Deadpool mushroom , I did notice a little kink in the outter today though. Is this a sign of a split and do I need to provide plates around the mushroom to help it locate

Saltyreef · Sep 11, 2023

Unfortunately discosomas dont split like that. Atleast in my 10 year history of keeping them.

when a mushroom splits naturally, it will pinch all the way to the mouth. Then pull itself away. These reproduce by pedal lasceration.

radreef02 · Sep 24, 2023

My theory was right, it was trying to split but, it split a baby from the bottom

Mr. Mojo Rising · Sep 24, 2023

It moved, and its leaving a piece of itself behind, the main body is stretching away from the piece left behind. Thats how Discoma reproduce, not a true split down the middle like you see on Ricordea's.

If you want them to reproduce quickly, you can aim a powerhead at it, it will move away from the direct flow, and leave little babies behind it

dschuffert · Sep 24, 2023

That is enjoyable to see!

radreef02 · Sep 24, 2023

Mr. Mojo Rising said:
It moved, and its leaving a piece of itself behind, the main body is stretching away from the piece left behind. Thats how Discoma reproduce, not a true split down the middle like you see on Ricordea's.

If you want them to reproduce quickly, you can aim a powerhead at it, it will move away from the direct flow, and leave little babies behind it

Kind of hard to find a dead spot in my tank. Is it best to put these things behind a rock with the most dead flow ?

RRA · Sep 24, 2023

The way you describe is not the way they reproduce.

Can you lift up the “umbrella?

For me the area that is attached to the rock is what split commonly called the “Foot” it will slowly start to pinch itself off until it leavs a little smooth nub that looks nothing like mother which slowly starts to build texture like the mother as one or the other moves away from the other into it’s own light. A natural split like I describe is painfully slow. There are ways to make it faster or unnatural also.