What is happening to my purple mushroom

[dwkoller]

About a 5 days ago I noticed a small white spot on one of my purple mushrooms, the spot was pretty much in the center. In appears to be getting bigger and my mushroom is getting smaller. The small white spot is getting larger and seems to be taking on a dome shape. There seems to be fibrous strands around the edges of mushroom.

The mushrooms have been in the tank for several months and are doing well. The images were taken tonight after the lights had been off for about 5 hours, so the mushrooms are smaller than normal.

Tank parameters are salinty 1.024, temp 78, ph 8.2-8.4, nitrites 0, Ammonia 0, nitrates 10, calcium 400, alk 9, phosphates 0.25. Lights two jebo pc -- 440 watts total, light are 6 months old, lights on for 10 hours a day. There a no corals in the vicinity that could sting the mushrooms.

In the tank but far away from the mushrooms are a rose anemone, frogspawn and bubble coral. There are a number of pepermint and cleaner shrimp, hermits and snails.

Could a crab or shrimp have injured the mushroom? Should I try to cut the effect mushroom out? Remove the little white dome thing? Are the other mushrooms in danger? Any idea as to what is going on?

Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!

dwk

[FishinInTheDark]

To me, that looks like a sponge growing underneath the mushroom. They seem to prefer darker areas, so that's not too surprising. It shouldn't harm your mushroom at all.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I agree with Conni, I have a sponge in one of my tanks that looks just like that. If the shrooms is bothered by it, it'll just move over a bit.

[Condiman]

Yep I also agree you should see the ones in my tank they have grown quite large. Ill see if I can get some photos.

Your mushroom will likely be quite fine. It is definately bothered by the sponge and as long as you maintain good water quality, you're about to be a parent. The mushroom isn't moving away from it....it's splitting.

See the Mesenterial filaments on your second picture at 2:00, 6:00, and 9:00. Those are internal structures of a coralimorph. Occasionally, they will spit them out of their mouth to sting a neighboring coral. For just a little disc, they are pretty tough cookies. Once they win the battle, they usually just draw the Mesenterial filaments back in. Touch one of those filaments with the back of your hand...I dare you. Just kidding...don't do that, you never know if you'll have a bad reaction to being stung.

BTW...this would be a good time to include a link to this thread http://www.coralforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2053&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Doctor_Reef]

Wow...mantisfreak great observation there...and I would agree!!! :thumbsup: