Michael Davis
Hairy mushrooms are a bright green variety of mushroom that can be relocated and grown in an aquarium. They are easy to care for and can thrive in most light and flow combinations. They can be mounted using IC gel glue or putty in the bottom half of the aquarium where they can reproduce and expand their colonies over the rock. If you want to relocate a mushroom from outside, it is best to use a good fruiting medium, moisture, and the proper growing environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Placement | Bottom half of the aquarium |
| Mounting | IC gel glue or putty |
| Lighting | Low to moderate (PAR 80-250) |
| Water Flow | Low to moderate |
| Water Conditions | 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 |
| Calcium | 420-440 ppm |
| Alkalinity | 8-9.5 dkh |
| Magnesium | 1260-1350 ppm |
| Nitrates | <10ppm |
| Phosphates | < .10ppm |
| Water Chemistry | Additions of iodine |
| Feeding | Zooplankton, phytoplankton, marine snow, or food for fish |
| Growth | 3" in diameter |
| Reproduction | Fission |
| Relocation | Cut at the base with a razor blade or scissors |
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What You'll Learn
Hairy mushroom placement
Hairy mushrooms are a gorgeous bright green colour and can grow to 3" in diameter. They grow very densely, often covering the rock completely. They are easy to care for and can thrive in just about all light and flow combinations. They require low to moderate water flow and low to moderate lighting (PAR 80-250). They grow and reproduce by fission in the aquarium when provided with the proper environment.
To mount hairy mushrooms, use IC gel glue or putty to secure them to the bottom half of the aquarium. This allows them to reproduce and expand their colonies over the rock. If you want to avoid them growing on your main rock structure, try creating a mushroom island by mounting several types of mushrooms to one larger rock and placing it in your sand bed.
Hairy mushrooms benefit from supplemental feedings of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and/or marine snow. They can also catch fish food and are fun to watch as they curl up like a funnel to move the food to their mouths.
If you need to relocate a hairy mushroom, you can try using a razor blade or sharp scissors to cut it as close to the base as possible. Alternatively, you can siphon out some water and use the suction to lift the coral slightly to make a clean cut.
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How to cut and relocate a hairy mushroom
Firstly, you will need to clean the mushroom. Using a damp paper towel, gently wipe any debris, dirt, or grit off the mushroom. Avoid rinsing or submerging the mushroom in water for too long, as it will absorb the liquid and alter its crisp texture.
Next, place the mushroom stem side down on a cutting board. If you wish to remove the hairy part of the mushroom, do so before cutting. Using a sharp knife, slice the mushroom in half. Rotate the mushroom 90 degrees, then slice it in half again to create quarters. You can also cut the mushroom into slices or matchsticks of your desired thickness.
If you are relocating the mushroom to a new tank, you may need to frag it off the rock it is attached to. You can use a bone cutter or a similar tool to cut the rock at the base of the mushroom. This will allow you to remove the mushroom without killing it.
Once you have cut the mushroom, you can store it in a porous container with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. Alternatively, you can place it in a paper bag or a vented container. Cut mushrooms will typically last for 4-6 days in the fridge.
It is important to note that green hairy mushrooms are considered invasive and can quickly take over a tank. If you are relocating them, be cautious to avoid spreading them to unwanted areas.
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Lighting and flow requirements for hairy mushrooms
Lighting requirements for mushrooms vary from species to species. While some mushrooms require no light at all, others need light to produce abundant, normal-sized fruits. Generally, mushrooms don't need light to grow, but light does play an important role in their life cycle and affects their growth.
For mushrooms to develop mature fruiting bodies, some degree of light is required. Indirect light is considered best for mushrooms, with many growers placing their mushrooms near a window to provide the required amount of indirect light. A 12-hour light schedule is a popular choice among growers, with some providing 10 to 12 hours of light daily. Fluorescent (CFL) lighting is also used by growers to ensure mushrooms have access to light in the absence of natural sunlight.
The light requirements also depend on the type of mushroom being grown. For instance, the psychedelic cubensis require plenty of illumination to grow healthy, mature fruiting bodies, whereas the button and enoki mushrooms, commonly found in grocery stores, are grown in the dark to produce pale mushrooms with smaller caps.
In addition to light, airflow and temperature are important factors to consider when providing the ideal conditions for mushrooms to grow. Easy-to-grow species like oyster mushrooms require a warm spot near a window with 12 hours of indirect light, airflow, and temperatures in the upper 50s to mid-60s Fahrenheit (15C to 20C).
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Feeding hairy mushrooms
While it is not necessary to manually feed hairy mushrooms, as they can feed on the food that settles on them or the food that is fed to fish, some people choose to feed them mysis or brine every three to four days. It is also possible to feed them Spectrum pellets. When feeding, the powerheads and pumps should be turned off.
Hairy mushrooms thrive in most light and flow combinations and are very easy to grow. They can be placed at the bottom or in the middle of a tank.
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How to propagate mushrooms from store-bought ends
Propagating mushrooms from store-bought ends is a simple process that can be done by anyone. The process is quicker than growing mushrooms from spores because you can use the mycelium already on the fungi.
Firstly, you need to separate the ends from the tops of the mushrooms. The ends are where the fuzzy, white mycelium is located. Cut the ends into small pieces, around 1/4 inch (6mm) in size.
Next, prepare your growing medium. You can use straw, cardboard, paper bags, or a plastic bin. Soak the straw or cardboard in water or isopropyl alcohol for a couple of days to sterilize it. Place some of the straw or other moist material at the bottom of your container and add the mushroom end pieces.
Do another layer until the container is full, and keep the medium and mycelium damp, in the dark, and at a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees F (18-23 degrees C). Poke holes in the lid or cover with plastic wrap to allow airflow and preserve moisture. Mist the medium if it starts to dry out.
After about two to four weeks, the mycelium should be ready to fruit. Tent plastic over the medium to maintain moisture and allow the fungi to form. In about 19 days, you should be able to harvest your mushrooms.
You can also try a simpler method by chopping the mushrooms into small pieces and putting them into a bag with a damp paper towel. Once the mycelium starts to grow, dump it into a substrate made of cardboard, newspaper, or coffee grounds.
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Frequently asked questions
Hairy Mushrooms can be relocated using IC gel glue, or putty, in the bottom half of the aquarium where they can reproduce and expand their colonies over the rock.
Hairy Mushrooms require low to moderate water flow and low to moderate lighting (PAR 80-250). They thrive in just about all light and flow combinations.
Hairy Mushrooms benefit from supplemental feedings of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and/or marine snow. However, they can also feed on the food given to fish.
