Dave- I blame YOU!!

[Cearbhaill]

I read with interest your advice about impaling mushrooms with toothpicks to keep them in place while they are attaching?

I have a lovely mushroom rock that I've been trying to train onto an even larger rock, but the shrooms weren't moving fast enough to suit me. "I'll just peel 'em off and toothpick them individually where I want them" I thought.

I got the peeling figured out- I used a wooden bonsai tool that is gentle to tissue yet firm enough to work.
Stabbed 'em into place.

Three seconds later I see a peppermint shrimp sneaking off with one of my mushrooms- and the toothpick!!
I snagged it out of his grasp and told him "NO".
Lather rinse and repeat- ad nauseum.

Peppermint shrimp do not take very well to classical conditioning techniques. I'm a pretty good animal trainer and they are not buying it.

Fast forward to the next morning.
Of course I have NO mushrooms left at all, and an overflow full of toothpicks.

Happy?

 

[mogurnda]

Oh dear. Like little hors d'oevres. Sorry Toni.

You may have read in some of my posts that I think peppermints are ravenous little demons. :mad2 This reinforces that belief.

From now on, I will add "remove peppermint shrimp from tank" to any impalement suggestions.

I hope you left a few on the old rock. Next time, I guess some (well-secured) wedding veil may be the answer.

Maybe I shouldn't, but I snicker each time I read the part about you trying to use negative reinforcement on the red imps.

 

[gbolton]

Hmm this is where super glue is great. I still think this is the best way to propogate mushrooms. I cut them off and superglue the all the time to rocks/rubble and it works great.