Actinodiscus sp. (Purple 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: 10 July 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.

The rock with buttons and mushroom moved a little more to the left.

2 months ago we bought several small rocks with buttons and mushrooms. This rock also came with a bunch of buttons and one purple mushroom. In the two months the buttons expended rapidly, especially in the last 2 weeks. The mushroom seems to have given up, can’t be found underneath the buttons anymore. Maybe he detached and moved or something, who knows…time will tell.

Showing up between the buttons from time to time

The rock fell down again, this time it was our fault. My wife knocked it over when trying to inject the Anemones with boiling water. No permanent damage seems to have occured.

From time to time we still see something purple between the buttons. Seems there are two now between the buttons.

Rock been thrown down again! Also tried to clear the mushroom from Planaria a bit

Since it got thrown down every time I decided to place it somewhere else. It's now located next to the Toadstool.