Elephant Ear Mushroom = Fish Killer???

[Carmen]

I purchased this Giant Mushroom from a fellow reefer. He was not sure exactly what this mushroom was and it was sold to him as a Giant Creeping Mushroom. I believe it is actually an Elephant Ear Mushroom of some type and have read that they have a potential to capture and kill fish. Anyone have any experiences with this variety? Should I be worried about my fish??
This mushroom is atleast 10 inches long with 5 mouths and a green blue color.

[dsaundry]

Yes you should be very concerned, You must pack up your Copperbanded Butterfly and send him to me immediately....

Just kidding...There isnt a ton of info that I can find on these giant mushrooms, I cant imagine it eating a healthy fish..but if in doubt, send it back...

[Chaloupa]

I have them in my RSM with tiny fish; Eviota gobies, Trimma gobies, Yellow Clown Goby etc...they perch on it, and it's just fine.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I've had one big Rhodactis mushroom that closed up & killed my Mandarin goby that was too stupid to move off it as it slowly closed over the fish. I saw the fish sit on it, then I went back to work. Next I saw that the mushroom was closed up & it slowly opened to reveal a dead, but uneaten fish.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Once they get big enough, yes they can and will eat fish. Mine ate about a quarter of a clown And it was smaller than yours. It kind of just released the rest of it.

That was a few years back and I have never kept those mushrooms since.

[MikeP]

I've seen pictures of mushrooms eating fish. I'm no marine biologist but I'm pretty sure mushrooms are in the same family as anemones. I wouldn't want a threat like that in a tank your size. I'm actually pretty sure my carpet anemone has caught a fish or two in my tank You might want to sell it or trade at a LFS.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Ok, after taking a closer look at your shroom, it looks very similar to the ones I have in my tank & those I've never seen try to eat any fish. They are long and narrow, whereas the fish eater ones are round. That means, to me, that its sides are not very wide & it would be much more difficult to close up completely over a fish. Beautiful coral.

[Carmen]

Wow, I have a mixed review then on these guys hey?! I would hate to get rid of it because it's HUGE and has areally nice color to it. Sorta russian roulette abit then???
The research I have been seeing online seems to suggest the "Rounder, Hairier" Mushrroms are more apt to kill/catch a fish, I wonder if this one is not as likely like Seahorse Fanatic says?
And Funny Chaloupa - I LOVE my Butterfly (A teeny tiny bit more than my Elephant Ear so unfortunately I'd be packing you up the coral before the fish!)

Thanks for your opinions, any others are much appreciated!
Carmen

[tang daddy]

I have the same mushroom in my tank actually got a frag from seahorse fanatic about 2 years ago and I can definately confirm that it doesn't eat fish. Mine has problems eating mysis even when there's no flow in my tank if a fish was already dead stuck on the mushroom I don't even think it would get eaten, btw nice size for your mushroom there!!

[parkinsn]

I had a Elephant Ear, had is the key word here. It was about 5-6" across and it downed 2 perc's that hosted in it, I thought they just died but i saw it re-gergitate 1 of the fish when it was done eating it... Then it proceeded to eat a 3" fox face (i saw that happen, its was pretty cool for what it was) i tryed to save the fox face but the Elephant Ear had released the toxin and it was to late for the both of them.