Mushroom Propagation

[67Stang]

Just received one mushroom polyp from a friend and I was wondering what steps I need to take to propagate it onto several mushrooms.

Any and all advice is appreciated
Bruce

 

[Anonymous]

Slice & Dice. Then attach it to a rock using bridal veil.

 

[Kelp]

I bought a rock with 3 small purple mushrooms on it about 18 months ago. I have done nothing to prop. it, and am now looking at least 35 mushrooms. (this does not include the 3 or so I gave away- and by all reports are reproducing as well)
Just in case you don't want to slice it up.
Good luck what ever you decide.

 

[rickb1]

all you need to do is have some patience.


rickb

 

[67Stang]

Guy

Can I just take the mushroom and cut it into quarters? Kind of like cutting a pizza pie?

It's kind of a scary thing since I only have one mushroom to work with!

Also, where do I get the bridal veil? Any fabric store?

Thanks again
Bruce

 

[danmhippo]

Yes, any fabric or craft & hobby store.

 

[John 3:16]

i have never done it but i read that when you cut it, make sure all four pieces have part of the top and also part of the stalk.
i dont know for sure , i just read a whole lot on here.
my 2 cents

 

[DreamMarine]

Just remember slicing is not the easiest task, but it does work. Remember these mushrooms shrivel up to nothing and are very slimey and hard to hold on to. I take a sharp pair of scissors and cut them into fourths and then place them on a rock with wedding veil netting and rubberbands. I have gotten some nice little colonies started with this method. But I have also had to cut my losses. Some will slime out and there will be nothing left to attach to a rock. Also, make sure your netting is small, or double it. I have lost a few from escaping from the netting.
I am very happy with my results so far. If you do decide to do it, I wish you the best of luck.
(It also helps to set the cut mushrooms in a bowl of tank water with 3 drops of iodine to ensure that they heal fast, I have had full circles develop in 2 days from cuttings)

 

[esmithiii]

I would wait until you are sure it has acclimated well to your tank, and that it is growing before propagating. Mine spread on their own.

Another technique I have used is to cut them up into quarters and then place the cuttings in a bowl filled w/ liverock rubble and located in your tank in a low water circulation area w/ good lighting. In a week or less they attach themselves to the rubble and you can then superglue the pieces of rock onto larger pieces.

E

 

[67Stang]

Stacey

(It also helps to set the cut mushrooms in a bowl of tank water with 3 drops of iodine to ensure that they heal fast)

What size bowl do you use and how long do you let them soak before returning them to the tank?

Thanks
Bruce

 

[Anonymous]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by esmithiii:
<STRONG>I would wait until you are sure it has acclimated well to your tank, and that it is growing before propagating. </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Excellent point! Don't try to propagate a mushroom that isn't in top health.

Another method that works well it to take a new razor and just slice the mushroom in equal halves. Cut right through the center and just leave both halves attached to the rock. It will have a better chance of making it because both halves are alread attached. Another benefit is that the mushrooms will crawl away from each other and leave a few babies along the way. You will end up with 4 - 6 mushrooms where there was only 1.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's an example of what I'm talking about.

Two weeks ago I sliced a large hairy mushroom in half. You can see where the mushroom was from the lack of coralline on the overflow.

The top half moved up and to the left. The lower half crawled right. Then it crawled back to the left leaving a line of 4 smaller ones on the way back. I assume the light is better on the left because that's where they both stayed. So now I have 6 from the one.