Killer Shroom???

DRC Archive General Saltwater Discussion
1

:-?

Did my umbrella mushroom REALLY just eat my new clown?

Added a new clown from DPA (the cute little nakey guy) and he seemed to be doing alright, but was being harassed a bit by the damsels. Long story short, he didn’t make it through the night. Couldn’t find him anywhere.

Then I noticed a peppermint picking at my umbrealla mushroom… Damn peppermints. So I grab him with the tongs and move him out where the peppermints dont usually go, and gave him a bit of squeeze acidentally. I didn’t notice at the time, but the shroom, was much fatter around the bottom part. Later I come down and noticed the top half of a cute little clown sitting on the shroom with its guts sticking to it and a MUCH slimmer shroom.

So did he get eaten by the shroom or did the damsels get him and the shroom did clean up? I came down about mid night and noticed the little guy swimming like crazy against the current of the powerhead. I wonder if he wore himself out and couldn’t escape the sneaky shroom?

2

That last part seems the right answer. Prolly got tired out and died due to exhaustion (and harassment) and the shroom got a free meal. Can’t see a shroom actively catching a fish.

3

I think I saw the shroom wearing a ninja mask and a poison dart but I’m not sure

4

when that shroom splits…you should let me see if it eats one of my clowns Saint:)

5

What type of mushroom? There are types that have been known to chatch and eat fish…

6

Hey Ian,

Sorry to hear about your naked clown. He was a nice fish and was doing well at the store.

Tom Saint:)

7

[quote=“icy1155, post:5, topic:1204”]
What type of mushroom? There are types that have been known to chatch and eat fish…[/quote]

I only know it as an umbrealla mushroom. It can get pretty large at times, maybe 3" in diameter when it stretches out.

[quote=“tom-annette, post:6, topic:1204”]
Hey Ian,

Sorry to hear about your naked clown. He was a nice fish and was doing well at the store.

Tom Saint:)[/quote]

I know I feel so bad because he was doing so well at the store. I feel like blaming the bully damsels and punishing them, but I don’t know how…

8

Keep in mind that mushrooms are opportunistic feeders. the clown may have decided the mushroom would make a nice home. Hungry mushrooms says “Hey there’s food sitting right near my mouth” and starts to close up. Clown is tired from being chased all day or the damsels harrass it to keep it in the shroom until the shroom completely closes and swallows the fish. Our tanks really are one big organized crime ring.

lOl

Sorry for your loss, but the fish probably just got stressed to the point it died, something in the tank ate most of it and the remains settled on the mushroom which may or may not have eaten and regurgitated it.

9

[quote=“longballz84, post:4, topic:1204”]
when that shroom splits…you should let me see if it eats one of my clowns Saint:)[/quote]

What kind of clowns you got? Don’t want them? I can take them off your hands and see if it eats them lol

10

Yep, umbrella shrooms are known fish eaters. I have a pic in one of my books of one eating a full grown bangii cardinal.