Actinodiscus sp. (Striped Mushroom)

Source: liveaquaria.com

QUICK STATS

• Care Level: Easy
  
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
  
• Lighting: Moderate
  
• Waterflow: Low to Medium
  
• Placement: All
  
• Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
  
• Color Form: Blue, Purple, Green
  
• Origin: Indonesia
  
• Family: Actinodiscidae/Discosomatidae
  
• Insert Date: 28 September 2010

The Actinodiscus Mushrooms are also referred to as Mushroom Anemones and Disc Anemones. They were previously in a genus called Discosoma. These invertebrates display a wide variety of colors, textures, and patterns. Some are solid colors, such as the blue specimen pictured above, whereas, others are striped or spotted. The taxonomy of the various species is in a state of flux, and will probably continue to change.
They are hardy and moderately easy to maintain, and under the right conditions, will multiply and spread very rapidly. In general, they need a medium light level, and should be placed lower in the tank if the light intensity is high. The Actinodiscus Mushrooms prefer a low to medium water flow within the aquarium, although different species may have different requirements. They are semi-aggressive and require adequate space between themselves and other corals and sessile invertebrates. Each ships as several individual mushrooms attached to one rock.

An Actinodiscus Mushrooom receives some of its nutritional requirements through the photosynthesis of the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae which it hosts. It also feeds on other nutrients and particulate matter and benefits from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp fed to each polyp of the colony.

This rather large mushroom I found in our aquarium store. Together with 5 different small mushrooms I got it for 5 euro's. This location where he is now is already switched couple of times. I hope he attaches somewhere soon.



One day later

Yesterday I decided to get a small piece of rock and some net and try to make the mushroom attach to the small rock. Hopefully then it wont blow through the tank anymore.

After a week and a half in a small glass in the aquarium with some small rocks underneath it it has attached itself. It's now back in it's place with two rocks attached to it.

The striped mushroom is becoming huge already and is looking beautiful. I hope it will split soon so I might be able to get a fragment from it for a project in the making

Also removed the Planaria from the mushrooms.