Purple Mushroom Problem

[Rychek]

I've got one purple mushroom in my tank. It was added a week ago Sunday as part of the Pay it Forward Frag Donation program and I've been very pleased with its progress. Until yesterday that is.

When I returned home from work I noticed it looked shriveled and droopy. I had super glued it in a shady spot, so I moved it to a better lighted area. Today when returned home from work it still looks shriveled and it has two little puffball looking spots on it. It looks like it has puked its guts out, but the puffs aren't anywhere near the mouth. My other mushrooms, palys and Xenia all look good. My monti cap is growing as well. I did have a dartfish jump Sat/Sun, but I'm not sure if it's related. I haven't had a chance to test my water yet, but I'll be doing that at my first opportunity.

This is what the mushroom looked like on Sunday:


This is what it looks like now (under 3 different types of light):




Any ideas as to what those puffs are and whether or not I should be concerned about them?

[justahobby]

I have a red ricordia mushroom that curled up unhappily. (I'll try to paint you a picture) When he began uncurling Pieces of his body were stuck to his mouth with strings between the mouth and body. It's like he tried eating himself. Afer he stretched out That's when the same bubbles you have appeared. I know this doesn't help but that's why they are there. It's not abrasions from a fish messing with it or some other cause. GL.

[Rychek]

I just tested my water:

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0
PH = ~8.3

I don't have any other test at this point.

[apedroza]

Mushrooms are very resilient. More than likely it is reacting to the glue and stress of being moved. Mushrooms are almost impossible to glue to anyting, they slime way too much. The best thing to do is put rubble in a small cup or dish and place the muchroom in ther and allow it to attach to the rubble. You can then glue the rock to the desired spot.

[bexarhunt]

Rychek,
I donated this mushroom. If the rules allow, I will be more than happy to donate another one to you if this one doesn't make it.

[Rychek]

@apedroza
That's what I was thinking. I've got the mushroom in an old baby food jar with some rock rubble. That's where it was when I initially noticed the puff ball looking things. What doesn't make sense to me is that it was doing fine for a week then just up and shriveled.

@bexarhunt
I appreciate the offer. My goal is to not lose the one I've already received. I'll give it a couple more days before I really start worrying about it though. Like apedroza said, mushrooms are very resilient.

[Rychek]

Good news; when I arrived home from work today, the mushroom was spread out over the rubble in the jar. The puff ball things are gone and it's looking much better. I'm going to let it attach to one of the rubble rocks then find a better place for it. No glue this time.

On another note, I've got a baby mushroom growing under one of my other mushrooms. This tank never ceases to offer something new and exciting.