Rhodactis mussoides (Mussoides Mushroom) Propagation & Fragging Guide

How to propagate the Rhodactis mussoides hairy mushroom corallimorph: asexual reproduction including incomplete fission and fragging, with low-flow healing conditions.

Overview

Rhodactis mussoides is a larger hairy mushroom corallimorph. Like other Rhodactis it is related to stony corals but lacks a stony skeleton, belonging to the order Corallimorpharia. Reef Builders documents an unusual asexual behaviour for this form, treated under the name Platyzoanthus mussoides, describing it as the only corallimorph that undergoes asexual reproduction via incomplete longitudinal fission, where polyps may remain partially attached and form colonial structures.

Reproductive Mode

R. mussoides reproduces mainly asexually in the hobby. Beyond pedal laceration shared by mushrooms generally, Reef Builders specifically attributes incomplete longitudinal fission to this form, in which dividing polyps stay partially joined. Sexual reproduction in corallimorphs is broadcast and pelagic and is not a hobby pathway.

Asexual Propagation / Fragging

It can be propagated by the standard mushroom fragging method. Reef Builders reports that mushroom corallimorphs heal well from cutting and grow quickly, while the difficult part is reattaching the cuttings, since glue and rubber bands do not bond the soft tissue directly.

The working technique is to place each cutting on a small piece of substrate and glue that substrate to a larger rock, letting the mushroom anchor itself as it heals. Polyps generated by its incomplete fission can also be separated once well attached to a frag plug or rubble.

Conditions for Propagation

Reef Builders advises medium to low light and minimal flow for shrooms, with the best extension in near-stagnant water; the calm flow also lets dislodged polyps settle and attach. These conditions suit healing R. mussoides cuttings and newly divided polyps.

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction is broadcast spawning with pelagic larvae and cannot be completed in a closed aquarium, so hobby propagation of R. mussoides is asexual.