Hormigaquatica
Active member
Over the last few years I've had a fair number of fish disappear- I bet its been close to a grand worth of various wrasses, gobies, clowns, etc. Not sick and dying, just healthy then Gone.
About 6 years ago I picked up a tiny mushroom as a hitchhiker. Since then its grown into a 6" diameter Amplexidiscus fenestrafer, and split off a second shroom. Now, Im well aware of the reputation of this particular shroom, but I figured most of my fish were far too fast or large to get caught. Until tonight.
I just happened to be watching the tank tonight. I made a comment about the Epaulette/Nigricauda Tang harassing one of my other fish, and that I wish I could catch him to move to the fish only. With 400# of rock in a 240 though, I didnt stand a chance.
I looked away at another part of the tank, and literally 2 to 3 minutes later looked back to see the larger shroom all closed up as if I had dropped in some food. 2 of my 3 fish were accounted for- except the 4" tang. Then I saw the pursed up shroom Bounce from the inside. Had to be water flow... Then it bounced Again! I immediately tried to pry it open, and found my poor tang totally encased, and stuck to the shroom so hard I had to literally tear the thing open to pull the fish out.. after moving the entire package to my fish only
The tang is still alive for now, but I was shocked to see just how badly stung he was. The fish in the picture does NOT have ich; every white spot is a burn mark from the mushroom- similar to a Carpet Anemone sting. The other side of him has a large black burn mark running through him, and portions of his dorsal and anal fins are torn to shreds. All of this from less than 3 minutes in the mushroom. So freakin wierd. The tang is now safely in the 125 (and my fish in the reef are thankful), and the shrooms are in my sump.
On a positive mushroom note, I happened to spot a pseudocorynactis in my tank for the first time in in nearly 4 years; I thought they had all disappeared.. woohoo! Of course its another known fish eater, but, its little for now...
About 6 years ago I picked up a tiny mushroom as a hitchhiker. Since then its grown into a 6" diameter Amplexidiscus fenestrafer, and split off a second shroom. Now, Im well aware of the reputation of this particular shroom, but I figured most of my fish were far too fast or large to get caught. Until tonight.
I just happened to be watching the tank tonight. I made a comment about the Epaulette/Nigricauda Tang harassing one of my other fish, and that I wish I could catch him to move to the fish only. With 400# of rock in a 240 though, I didnt stand a chance.
I looked away at another part of the tank, and literally 2 to 3 minutes later looked back to see the larger shroom all closed up as if I had dropped in some food. 2 of my 3 fish were accounted for- except the 4" tang. Then I saw the pursed up shroom Bounce from the inside. Had to be water flow... Then it bounced Again! I immediately tried to pry it open, and found my poor tang totally encased, and stuck to the shroom so hard I had to literally tear the thing open to pull the fish out.. after moving the entire package to my fish only
The tang is still alive for now, but I was shocked to see just how badly stung he was. The fish in the picture does NOT have ich; every white spot is a burn mark from the mushroom- similar to a Carpet Anemone sting. The other side of him has a large black burn mark running through him, and portions of his dorsal and anal fins are torn to shreds. All of this from less than 3 minutes in the mushroom. So freakin wierd. The tang is now safely in the 125 (and my fish in the reef are thankful), and the shrooms are in my sump.
On a positive mushroom note, I happened to spot a pseudocorynactis in my tank for the first time in in nearly 4 years; I thought they had all disappeared.. woohoo! Of course its another known fish eater, but, its little for now...
The spots are gone, though he has lost some weight (stress..?). The patch of dorsal that was sloughing off has finally quit, and while its not grown back yet, there's no sign of infection. Eating like a champ and very active again. Ill try to get an updated picture as his fin heals up.
