The presence of small and large tentacles is not This rare Discosoma sp. is a favorite among collectors. uncommon on R. yuma.

Propagating mushroom is very easy and can often be achieved simply by giving the corals optimum conditions for growth. Many of mushrooms grow extremely fast and reproduce by budding. Manual propagation is also easy, as most mushroom corals can be cut, ripped, and shredded, as long as part of the mouth and foot remain attached to each piece. However, some species, such as Ricordea yuma, can be very sensitive to these methods and may not always survive. Cutting can be done with almost any tool, but scalpels are especially efficient. The new piece will then regrow as a clone of the parent polyp. Some reef keepers advocate keeping freshly cut pieces of mushroom in an aquarium with an anti-bacterial in order to help reduce the possibility of infection and to allow the new clones to heal faster.

Under the right conditions, some mushroom corals can grow out of control, taking over entire rocks or even entire aquariums. They can slowly outcompete and overgrow other corals if left unchecked. If needed, there are methods for exterminating unwanted mushroom corals as well. An easy way to remove mushroom corals is with chemicals such as calcium hydroxide, or kalkwasser. Powdered kalkwasser can be mixed with aquarium water and then placed on top of or fed to mushroom corals in order to exterminate them. If you use a chemical such as kalkwasser in the aquarium, always be careful to use only a little at a time. Another way to get rid of unwanted mushroom corals is through manual removal. A barbecue brush with plastic bristles can be used to scrub mushroom corals off surfaces. If possible, remove the mushroom rock from the tank before scrubbing. After scrubbing, rinse the work surface with RO/ DI or distilled water.

While not many invertebrates are known to pair up with mushroom corals specifically, Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes sp.), Sexy Shrimp ( amboinensis), Pederson Cleaner Shrimp (Periclimenes pedersoni), and anemone (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai) will form symbiotic relationships with mushroom corals. The shrimp or gets somewhere to hide from predators, and the mushroom will get some of the food scraps that are dropped by the shrimp or crab. Sometimes, anemone fish and mushroom corals may form a relationship where the mushroom plays host to the fish. If an anemone is not present in the aquarium, these fish sometimes decide that mushroom corals are the next best thing. This relationship can, however, irritate the mushroom corals.

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