What makes a bounce mushroom "bounce"?

TangGang · Apr 7, 2022

I see the different, my corals definitely react differently from all blues to the 50/50. Much prefer 50/50.

LRT · Apr 7, 2022

monkeyCmonkeyDo said:
Look the same to me. Lol
D

No orange and not much of the pink you see in some photos unless its in blue light. The major difference is in size. Under full spectrum it nearly doubles in size by relaxing its cap and sprawling out as opposed to being so tightly retracted and pushing heavier vesicles. For sure a huge difference seeing it in person

Timfish · Apr 7, 2022

Spectrum and intensity are two major variables. Here's a paper that looked at "blister like syndrome" in Echnopora, results were inconclusive but it did not appear to be caused by a pathogen. Here's a picture of one experiment I did with Superman Rodactis of the same clone line in the same aquarium, lighting was custom LEDs with a ratio of 2 B - 2 RB - 1 CW - 1 WW.

zheka757 · Apr 7, 2022

My regular green mushroom became bounce mushroom

JaimeAdams · Apr 7, 2022

Interesting

Beau_B · Apr 7, 2022

@S&SReef

707Nick · Apr 8, 2022

sp1187 said:
cancer

I have herd the same thing “cancer” from a local reefer that I purchased some amazing Yumas from

deepseabc · Apr 8, 2022

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

CoralB · Apr 8, 2022

I believe lighting plays a big part but also when I broad feed the tank with Red Sea reef energy plus or fuel ,the shrooms that I have that are already bounced , get noticeably larger bubbles within 10 minutes to a half hour .

carbasaurus · Apr 9, 2022

I don’t have any theories but it is likely something specific to the mushroom itself rather than the tank parameters. Attached are several ricordias in my same tank. Clearly different responses to the same environment

fishgirljockey · Feb 8, 2023

TangGang said:
Heavy blues, although mine definitely bounce more with the less light I give them. Another thing is I have come to believe is that the more it’s bouncing the healthier it is IMO. Absolutely no certainty with this, it’s just my observations so take it with a grain of salt. But if my shrooms are losing their bounce it’s definitely a bad sign. They are more healthy when bouncing like mad, and it looks like that’s the same for a lot of other peoples shrooms. Also, when fragging, if you cut a side with a large bounce I have always had it live or stay attached without my help, even if I didn’t get the mouth of the shroom. The sides that detach or take a long time to heal almost always don’t have bounces, even if they got full mouth.

I agree with this. Some of my discosomas formed bubbles and it is said it is due to heavy lighting, but they looked their best when this appeared on them. When it wasn't, they weren't as spread out and dull looking. I think the bubbles is a very healthy sign! The lights just got turned on, but this is the one that has the most bubbles. In a few hours, 2-3 give or take, maybe even less, the bubbles will get very big and he looks stunningggggg. Ill try to get a photo later, but usually when I am out of work, they have had enough light and retract. I don't get finished till about 1030pm. When I first got him he was very flat looking, no bumps/bubbles at all. After about 2 weeks of having him he started to change little by little and he looks so amazing now!

zuri · Feb 9, 2023

95 % of the corals in the hobby have been plucked at depths white light doesn't penetrate. THE WHOLE WHITE LIGHT IS A USER PREFERANCE.

ChrisPPolys · Feb 20, 2024

The late great Jake Adam’s speculated it was cancer. Before he could research and prove his point he sadly passed away. Now I’ve heard this reiterated time and time again. Cancer as a result of high levels of UV light.
As someone whose tank is 90% bounce mushrooms I’d have to disagree. They’ve been my focus for years. They’re personally my favorite type of coral.

I’ve tried all different things to get them to produce more bubbles. I have enough OG’s (10+ frags with three mother colonies, 13 OG’s total) that I’ve been able to try all sorts of things. Having Experimented with them in all different area of lighting and flow within my reef.

Hell I even placed some small frags in a basket and placed them at the top of the tank under the highest intensity of direct light. From my personal experience they bounce best and look healthiest on the sand bed.
Getting back to the idea and thought that they’re cancer…Hypothetically speaking if they were cancer and a result of them being uncomfortable. Wouldn’t bounce mushrooms have become harder and harder to find? IE- if one person is selling them to another whose tank has perfect conditions, wouldn’t they notice the bubbles disappear?
I personally do not believe it has to do with light intensity, I also do not believe it’s cancer.

I’ve also had different types of mushrooms in my tank that have never bounced. If it were a result of high UV, wouldn’t those have bounced?

The_Paradox · Feb 20, 2024

ChrisPPolys said:
Getting back to the idea and thought that they’re cancer…Hypothetically speaking if they were cancer and a result of them being uncomfortable. Wouldn’t bounce mushrooms have become harder and harder to find? IE- if one person is selling them to another whose tank has perfect conditions, wouldn’t they notice the bubbles disappear?
I personally do not believe it has to do with light intensity, I also do not believe it’s cancer.

Not if the gene mutation was still present. Verify if it was cancer or not would be simple enough with microscopy. I have a couple favias that “bounce” when they are under high light. Pretty sure it’s not a sign of good health but never gave it much thought.

ChrisPPolys · Feb 20, 2024

The_Paradox said:
Not if the gene mutation was still present. Verify if it was cancer or not would be simple enough with microscopy. I have a couple favias that “bounce” when they are under high light. Pretty sure it’s not a sign of good health but never gave it much thought.

If it was that simple I think it would have been confirmed by now.