Question on cutting a toadstool

[playnhooky]

Ive got a toadstool thats about 6" its starting to get to tall and is starting to stick out of the water.My question is can i cut it half way up the stock or should i cut it right at the base where its conected to the rock?The stock is about 5" long and only the top inch or so is where it starts to mushroom out.

 

[Anonymous]

I asked the same question about 6 months ago, and basically any way you slice it it will work pretty much.

I wound up hacking mine in a variety of ways. If it is too tall but the diameter is ok, amputate it half way up the stalk, and then cram the top half into rocks and it will attach itself in a few days. The bottom part will either die or will become a new toadstool.

If the diameter is too big, you can either cut pie-like wedges out of it, and each of these will grow, or you can cut a stripe around the circumference and make a donut, and cut these up into approximate squares, each of which will grow, etc. The idea here is to leave the original colony in a state where it can eventually grow back and retain its round appearance. It will look pretty mangled for awhile.

I put one of my quarter-sized cuttings into my 10 gallon nano and now I have a new mushroom coral that is about 5" in diameter and has an approximately 6" stalk.

It is best to do this with a sharp razor. I really worried a lot about doing this but it is hard to mess it up too much. Most if not all of the cuttings will live and will probably be looking good within 2 or 3 weeks.

 

[playnhooky]

how did you attach the cuttings to the rocks?

 

[DKKA]

I use fishing line, or fishing line and a sewing needle. But you can also just pinch it between two rocks.
HTH, Dan

 

[playnhooky]

so if i wanted i could cut the stock into lets say five pieces stuff the mother colony back into the rocks and take the five pieces and tie them with fishing line onto some pieces of rubble and all five should come back?

 

[fishfarmer]

I take a toothpick, stick it through the chunk and rubberband the toothpick to a rock so the chunk is touching. It should attach within a couple of weeks. Then you should be able to pull the toothpick out.

 

[Reeffreak]

Another way to attach the toadstool cuttings to the rock to get some bridalveil material, place the cutting on a rock of your choice, place the bridalveil over the cutting, and then use a rubber band to hold the bridalveil (which is holding the cutting against the rock)to the rock. I have noticed that it takes 1-2 weeks for the cuttings to attach.

BTW, I did this with a sinularia species but it should work for both.

Steve

 

[bowfront]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by playnhooky:
<STRONG>so if i wanted i could cut the stock into lets say five pieces stuff the mother colony back into the rocks and take the five pieces and tie them with fishing line onto some pieces of rubble and all five should come back?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not sure if all 5 will take but toadstools are very prolific. I have them growing all over my tank from one original purchased over 10 years ago.

[ August 21, 2001: Message edited by: bowfront ]

 

[Jerry Gonzales]

I have also cut mine, But what I like doing is place a piece of live rock very tightly next to it. Soon the leather will attach to it and climb up that rock. It will tear and make two pieces on it's own.
Jerry