Aculeatus

[bluespotocto]

Ya it did that exactly. They are already starting to suck the stuff back in. But some of it looked like it floated away. Like in strands or something. Have you ever seen that?

[DWhatley]

I can't remember for sure (picture was taken in 2006) but I recall wondering if it was spawning (it wasn't) so it may have released some into the water column to make me think that.

[bluespotocto]

Ya when i saw it i thought right away it was spawning. I have looked and must of the white stuff is gone and it looking better.

Thanks

[bluespotocto]

So I am sure that the shroom did rip off because I saw it floating around in the tank. The base is still on the rock but the round shroom is floating around. What should i do?

[DWhatley]

Look at what is floating in the tank. Is there a hole in the center? Can you put it in a small dish of tank water and take a picture? It would be very strange to have it in two pieces unless something more than current attacked it. Some mushrooms do not attach tightly so you may be looking at two different things. A photo would be helpful.

[bluespotocto]

I took some pics of the loose floating mushroom. I also took a pic of where it use to be.(the base is directly in the center of the photo) Also whats the scientific name for the sun polyps, because i think my LF could get them. Island marine say they have cinnamon brown polyps. Are those the right ones.

[DWhatley]

I can't tell enough from the photo to see if there are tears in the center (put photo critters in a shallow bowl of tank water though as you minimize the recovery chances of a potentially damaged animal removing it from the water). If the mouth and the underside below the mouth are not harmed, the mushroom will be fine (some kinds attach and detach easily without harm, other not so safely). If there is damage to the underside (the mouth appears fine on top), it may or may not heal but leaving it in your tank is not a water problem. Mounting mushrooms is a challenge. You CAN just place it on some LR in very little current (or on a small piece of LR place somewhere very calm and moved later after attachment) and see if it attaches (it the red ones take about a week, sometimes two). Eventually, it will attach somewhere. An alternate is to loosely wrap large weave net over it for two weeks. The worst way I know of and I do not recommend is to use superglue but you need to be very good with handling the glue not to kill or fail to attach and I would recommend you visit a reef site for help if you want to try it this way.

The cinnamon brown zoos are the ones I said NOT to get and that I had to remove from Octane's tank because I saw a definite negative reaction. This is the best I can do on a proper name (from sealifeinc.net):

...often called "Sun Polyps", and are most likely in the genus Palythoa, and probably the species "grandis", but there could be some debate over the exact species

[bluespotocto]

The sight says they have stinging cells and you should wear gloves. So wont it sting the octo?

I think the mushroom will be find i just wedged in some rocks and i am going to watch it.

[bluespotocto]

Still wondering if the Giant Sun Zoanthid will sting?

Also these shrooms keep scaring me, because they open and close and i keep thinking some more are ripping off!!!

[DWhatley]

The mushrooms will close up at night and open with the lighting (as do most photosynthetic animals).

According to my reading, all corals have the ability to sting. The degree of sting and the ability for humans to sense it varies widely (vinegar is the usual pain reducer and shuts down the sting for most polyps/zoos - for humans only NOT for the tank or octos). Several of us have had good success with this particular kind of polyp and octopuses (you can see them in SueNami's tank as well as shots of Octane litterly sitting on them) and is why I mentioned them when you asked what you could safely add to the tank. Even some small zoos can irritate an octopus (and a human) but a small patch with your lighting should be easily avoided if the octo finds them unpleasant. Cinnamon browns multiply rapidly and cause a noticable reaction for octopuses and should not be included in their tank. Unlike the small zoos, they will spread quickly and take over the safe roaming space for the octopus.

No matter what you put in the tank, if your octo reacts like it is hot, you should remove it.

[bluespotocto]

Has any one tried frogspawn coral with an octopus?

[Nancy]

Frogspawn is pretty aggressive and does sting - I have some in my coral tank but would not put it in an octopus tank.

Nancy

[Animal Mother]

Has any one tried frogspawn coral with an octopus?

Most of the LPS corals are quite aggressive.

Leathers and other softies are generally safe.

[bluespotocto]

I am curious though because captfish has enomes in his tank and the octo almost like he says likes to rub on them.

[DWhatley]

Thales uses an expression that I like to quote from time to time (and he used it on one of my questions about cuttles).

It is OK until it is not

If you go back and read through CaptFish's journal, you will note that he put multiple baby briareus into a single, well established tank. Legs grew up undetected in the tank for several months, survived his likely sibblings, the anemones and what ever else the tank houses that might have found him an interesting meal. The reverse was mostly true as well except for one pesky fish and 4 sibblings. Do not misunderstand my reason for pointing this out as I am not objecting in anyway to the adventure but it is necessary that you read and consider the entire situation.

[ReeferTom]

I don't have any helpful info but here is some food for thought. If I remember correctly the mushrooms corals are themselves small Anemones. Unlike most other nems they are very hardy and from experience I can tell you that if you have a salinity spike that wipes out your reef tank....they will be the only thing that survives lol. The white stringy stuff coming out the middle is normal for new anemones recently introduced to a new tank, they turn themselves inside out sometimes to help aclimate to new enviorments. As for cuts or rips on the mushroom.....you should be so lucky. Most the mushrooms (read most) reproduce through fusion, so you may find that the mushroom you thought was ripping apart..... is.....into two mushrooms for you to enjoy. As for adding other Anemones to your system....I don't know how that will work out, but I can push you in the right direction. IMO <--- the bubble tip anemone would be a good place to start. Most anemones get kinda large for a tank your size and some of the smaller ones like the condylactus are known for being aggressive and very sticky. The BTA is a small to medium sized nem it comes in a few different colors (rose being the most expensive) they have a mild sting compared to other nems (i cant feel it when i handle them bare handed though my skin is thicker than your octos). Hope that helps some