Branching Red Plates?

[EnemyAnenome]

Hello! So I have these branching red "mushroom" shaped plates that are growing on my rock. I don't think it's Corralline since it should be flat on the surface. I was wondering if anyone could ID what's this is?

 

[exnisstech]

Sorry i can only see blue. Maybe shine a flashlight on it for a better pic.

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Sorry i can only see blue. Maybe shine a flashlight on it for a better pic.

View attachment 20250907_132914_E7AF6F1E-F30B-42D6-AB5F-8B08F0DF3BF5.mov
Here's a better view of the red branching mushrooms

 

[TankYouVeryMuch]

Sorry i can only see blue. Maybe shine a flashlight on it for a better pic.

View attachment 20250907_132914_E7AF6F1E-F30B-42D6-AB5F-8B08F0DF3BF5.mov
Here's a better view of the red branching mushrooms

This darned iOS app is a disaster when it comes to media. I could view the video once, but not again. It’s curious though.

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Sorry i can only see blue. Maybe shine a flashlight on it for a better pic.

View attachment 20250907_132914_E7AF6F1E-F30B-42D6-AB5F-8B08F0DF3BF5.mov
Here's a better view of the red branching mushrooms

This darned iOS app is a disaster when it comes to media. I could view the video once, but not again. It’s curious though.

Sorry about that don't know why this app is so janky

 

[BonnieB]

Can you get white light only pics?

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Can you get white light only pics?

Here are some white light pics

 

[BonnieB]

Can you get white light only pics?

Here are some white light pics

Thanks! They look like small red discosoma mushrooms…I have a few as well! They definitely are hardy and will spread. If you don’t want them (as in they are taking over prime coal real estate), simply pick them off!

 

[Reefering1]

Pictures are a bit blurry... do they have mouths?

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Pictures are a bit blurry... do they have mouths?

No they do not have mouths. Here's a better pic with more lighting. Don't know if this helps but my local reef shop said its cyano. I'm not sure if cyanobacteria is supposed to be solid like this though.

 

[Reefering1]

No they do not have mouths. Here's a better pic with more lighting. Don't know if this helps but my local reef shop said its cyano. I'm not sure if cyanobacteria is supposed to be solid like this though.

Well no mouth would mean not a mushroom (or any other coral, as far as I know). Have you touched it, what's the texture like? Does it come off easy? In one piece? Maybe remove a piece for closer/ clearer pictures in a glass or something...

 

[BonnieB]

Pictures are a bit blurry... do they have mouths?

No they do not have mouths. Here's a better pic with more lighting. Don't know if this helps but my local reef shop said its cyano. I'm not sure if cyanobacteria is supposed to be solid like this though.

If they are encrusting, I would disagree with your LFS. You can blow cyano away off the rocks and sand. If they don’t have mouths, I’d take back mushrooms since mine have mouths. Thinking now possibly sponge but honestly stumped! @vetteguy53081 can you help out?

 

[EnemyAnenome]

No they do not have mouths. Here's a better pic with more lighting. Don't know if this helps but my local reef shop said its cyano. I'm not sure if cyanobacteria is supposed to be solid like this though.

Well no mouth would mean not a mushroom (or any other coral, as far as I know). Have you touched it, what's the texture like? Does it come off easy? In one piece? Maybe remove a piece for closer/ clearer pictures in a glass or something...

The red shrooms can be broken off the rock with ease. The texture seems to be squishy when held and it doesn't blow away instantly. It seems to hold together quite well.
View attachment 20250912_161508_2EE97572-B532-4305-83E9-D88325612A2F.mov

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Here's a pic I could get of it in the sun. The black dots you see are the stems I detached from the rock, it seems to spread into an umbrella like form.

 

[Reefering1]

If they are encrusting, I would disagree with your LFS. You can blow cyano away off the rocks and sand. If they don’t have mouths, I’d take back mushrooms since mine have mouths. Thinking now possibly sponge but honestly stumped! @vetteguy53081 can you help out?

Sponge would be fairly porous and textured, and most don't just pop out in full light... kinda looks like a Marco algea to me. I had a brown Marco that looked similar when small, it peeled off,easily, in one piece- and sounded like lettuce when torn..

 

[Reefering1]

@ISpeakForTheSeas
Would appreciate your thoughts on this...

 

[Reefering1]

Here's a pic I could get of it in the sun. The black dots you see are the stems I detached from the rock, it seems to spread into an umbrella like form.

Do they respond to touch?
This isn't a mouth?

 

[EnemyAnenome]

Here's a pic I could get of it in the sun. The black dots you see are the stems I detached from the rock, it seems to spread into an umbrella like form.

Do they respond to touch?
This isn't a mouth?

Unfortunately they don't respond to pokes so I'm thinking maybe it isn't a coral.

 

[inferior plank]

I could be wrong, but that’s definitely macroalgae

 

[Reefering1]

Unfortunately they don't respond to pokes so I'm thinking maybe it isn't a coral.

Was it actually attached to the rock or would it blow off with a baster or pipette? Looks tiny, any bigger pieces?