What is happening to my mushroom?

[modernmagic]

Over the last few days this mushroom, and only this one, has been "falling apart". There is a sand covered "thing" behind it. The mushroom is still bright green in the parts that are still attached, but it no longer opens up during the day.

[reeferbill]

Welcome to Reefland modernmagic; Hopefully your mushroom is splitting to form another one. They are known to do this budding and splitting. Do you know how that sand got up on the rock because maybe that could have something to do with it?

[modernmagic]

The other green and orange mushrooms did not appear to spit to reproduce. One day I would just see a tiny copy of the shroom under the mushrooms cap. The larger "mother" shroom would eventually move enough for the "baby" to get better lighting. This is how it has been for the last 6 "babies".

This splitting is different.

I assume the sand is from some extensive vacuuming of the sand.

I still do not know what the sand covered squishy blob connected to that shroom is. Is it related to the spitting?

[reeferbill]

Hi ModernMagic; I would clean that sand from the rock with a turkey bastor and its good to clean the rock with the bastor before your water changes. Good Luck and Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[modernmagic]

As you can see in the photo there is no sand on the rock. The sand is stuck to something living.

Do the same species of green mushroom randomly split or bud? My other 3 green mushrooms that came from the same frag all used the budding method to reproduce the 6 "babies".