Help with fragging a mushroom

[Rick's Reviews]

So I brought this mushroom in jun/July this year on a frag plug/ same size/ maybe smaller, it was unidentified. it's been in my aquriam nearly 5 months and has grown to approx 3-4 inch
Mushrooms seem to do well in my aquriam and my others just spawn babies.
This one has just grown.
So my questions are... Do I frag it? If so do I cut straight in half OR into quarters (4 pieces), I have never cut a mushroom before so any advice would be highly appreciated, thanks

 

[DiamondCoralsLLC]

if you’ve never fragged mushrooms before cut it straight down the middle with a blade, make sure u get the mouth in both pieces and let it sit in an iodine dip afterward, then you should have a basket where both pieces can attach to a plug again.

 

[Koh23]

If you can cut it that each piece have part of mouth, great.

If not, not a big problem, just chop them to any number of pieces, and, small container, some rubble, nice and quiet place in tank, not too much light, not too much flow.....in no time u will have bunch of shrooms....

Maybe, just maybe, try on something more common, and plainer, some basic shroom, just to get feeling with cutting, they are bit slimy and not great in cooperating when u cut them, so clean and fast cut require some practice....

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Yes I have baskets and all stuff ready to frag, like I mentioned my other mushrooms spawn new, so I have gently removed (there was some bleeding) best I could from my rocks but this was mainly pushing the feet/ foot, these seem to be growing great and again splitting or spawning on frag plugs.
I cut up mushrooms from supermarket for cooking and eating.
it just feels different to think about cutting up a living mushroom, it's weird emotionally

Anyway, thank you

I can remove from aquarium with aquarium water so it should remain open, do I cut when fully open/ bloom or when it shriveled

 

[The_Skrimp]

Cutting with a razor blade should do the trick. Honestly, I’m my experience, mushrooms are super forgiving when fragging. When I cut mine up almost every bit of flesh left over becomes a new mushroom weather it has a piece of the mouth left over or not. Even little bits of flesh left over on the rock usually sprout new mushrooms which can get pretty annoying if you’re trying to move it.

I usually just take the pieces and stick them in a Tupperware with holes drilled in for flow and a handful of rock rubble. The mushrooms usually heal and attach to the rubble in a couple of weeks.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Thank you, I kinda attempted today on smaller mushrooms just to geat the feel for it and I fragged alot, (I'm building myself up to cut big mushroom up)

So I fragged my GSP, it had a frag plug attached to rock that made my mini island so I removed frag plug and cut to quarters (easy) no goo or mess (pic 1,GSP bottom right and pic 2), I also cut off long growth of GSP and attached to frag plugs (pic 3) and attached a new frag plug for GSP growth.

Mushrooms I have basically removed by pushing the foot with a cuticle (for nails) tool which is like a smoother edged screwdriver and have cut/divided all frag plugs with mushroom babies on.

a couple of small 'sponge bob bounce mushroom' I have tried super glueing to frag plugs but they not sticking/grabbing hold they just dropping to bottom of basket (pic 5/6/7)
I have used frag plugs as rubble rocks

I am using these little baskets from IKEA (part of garden range) (pics 8 and 9)


Forgot to mention I used Rx dip for a couple of minutes after each attachment to frag plug/ one to make sure isn't injuries was treated and/ two to help supeglue dry

 

[vetteguy53081]

With sharp blade cut straight across the center and do it in a container of tank water (Outside the tank to minimize any chance of release of toxins) - similar to cutting a chicken breast in half with knife

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Pictures to show size, smaller mushroom is slightly larger then a frag plug, honestly I'm looking for reasurance lol.. unknown territory for me
Thank you

 

[Dburr1014]

So I brought this mushroom in jun/July this year on a frag plug/ same size/ maybe smaller, it was unidentified. it's been in my aquriam nearly 5 months and has grown to approx 3-4 inch
Mushrooms seem to do well in my aquriam and my others just spawn babies.
This one has just grown.
So my questions are... Do I frag it? If so do I cut straight in half OR into quarters (4 pieces), I have never cut a mushroom before so any advice would be highly appreciated, thanks

Lop the top off, the stem will grow one. Cut it up as a pie. They will all be a new shroom. Now you have 9.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Lop the top off, the stem will grow one. Cut it up as a pie. They will all be a new shroom. Now you have 9.

Like a pizza, or like a hair cut?
I'm unsure.. I thought you need to separate the mouth so it regenerates?

 

[Dburr1014]

A pizza a bunch of triangles

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Thank you, I'm building myself up to do it so I'm going to attempt just half it, see how that goes, if it regenerates I will be so happy, then on to fragging freedom lol

 

[ilikefish69]

That is a BEAUTIFUL mushroom. Save me a piece! Lol!

best of luck though, I have 0 experience just along for ride

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I don't even know species, it's turquoise blue with yellow flowers, I'll get better pictures tomorrow without blues
It's approx 3inch circumference.. it's honestly big in my aquarium

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

yeah I'm following too, I also want to frag mine, but I'm too chicken. I wish you good luck. That really is a nice mushroom, I'll wait to see how yours turn out then maybe I'll try lol

 

[Rick's Reviews]

You know I was asking for reasurance and advice lol

 

[kevgib67]

I’m just curious, I’ve never thought of doing this, thy have always taken care of themselves. It sounds with the advice this will be a successful adventure. But I get the feeling of apprehension. Good luck.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Lots and lots of apprehension but I will do it this weekend, I have never done it before but I will definitely do my best hence the amount of questions I ask.
The more I ask, the more helpful advice I receive... Any other advice is appreciated (if I have missed something)
I have gloves, scalpels, frag plugs (been in my aquarium for over 4weeks for bio film) tweezers, Rx dip (two little fish brand/revive), cuticle/ smooth edged foot pusher? ,
3 bowls and alot of towels
Alot of helpful advise also, thank you

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Other mushrooms are doing great... Just hesitant for this big guy, others was spawns but I got to cut this guy up.... Do you think I should ask seller to frag for me lol.. I'm finding excuses... 'chicken breast'
It's just a chicken breast

 

[Rick's Reviews]

So today I got chance to remove large mushroom, thanks for all advice

I removed my arch rock entirely out of my aquarium and chiseled into rock to remove all feet/footings of mushroom

I divided mushroom into quarters using a Stanley blade and cutting through mouth the best I could....
It was very slimy/ slippery but I noticed a very foul smell??
Is that normal?
I kept out of aquriam for as long as I could rinsing/ changing water, I had various plastic containers that I transferred mushroom emptying the gooey slime first then placing in fresh aquarium water repeating this numerous times for several hours

I used two little fish revive before placing onto frag plugs, I have used these little pots with lots of holes to cover mushroom whilst they heal I also thought it would reduce any toxic stuff floating around my aquarium,

Is there anything I need to look out for during healing process please