Help! Leather toadstool coral question

[cyork]

I added a toadstool to my reef 4 days ago and within the last 24 hours the tentacles have not come out. This morning I see that it is shrinking. The first 3 days it looked very good with tentacles out. Is this normal or should I be concerned? I have it placed mid level in med flow. My water perams are nitrite 0, nitrate 10 or less, ph 8.2, salinity 1.025, ammon 0,
calcium 400, magnesium 1325.

Is it possible it just needs to get used to the tank? Thanks for the feedback

 

[Anonymous]

Leather corals often go through an adjustment period where they don't look so good after they are moved. From time to time even established leathers will whither up for a little while too.

I have found that the best way to get them perky again is to ensure that they have godd water flow over the whole coral.

Mine also typically look bad right when the lights come one, but expand to full glory as they "wake up."

 

[cyork]

Thanks I hope it is the adjustment phase...... The lights have been on for 4 hours today and it still looks shrunken. It is in an area where there is a nice flow of water over it. I'll keep my fingers crossed

 

[cyork]

I have been told that they will look like they are dying and then shed and come back better than ever. Anyone experience any of this?

 

[fishfanatic2]

Yes it is ture that leathers will go thru a shedding period and they wil look very bad and then they will come back looking great.

 

[krullulon]

I have been told that they will look like they are dying and then shed and come back better than ever. Anyone experience any of this?

yep -- i have a finger leather that went through multiple shedding periods for the first month. the M.O. -- it would shrink to about 30% of its extended size and darken significantly for a couple of days followed by a full-body slough. after the slough, it would expand back up for a few days and then repeat the cycle.

it did the above about 5 times, never fully extending during this period. it's now fully extending, however, and hasn't sloughed for the last few weeks.

if it goes for more than 5 days or so without expanding or sloughing, you might want to try moving it...

 

[cyork]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll give it some time and hopefully it will come back strong. I will let you know.

Nice pic by the way

 

[cyork]

The toadstool shed yesterday and looks awesome today. Thanks for the feedback. It helped keep me calm for a few days

 

[Anonymous]

They sure do look like crap sometimes don't they!

 

[glenn10]

if it goes for more than 5 days or so without expanding or sloughing, you might want to try moving it...

What do you mean by sloughing off??

 

[fishfanatic2]

i believe sloughing off means the release of lots of slime by the coral,particularily when stressed or shedding. :wink:

 

[krullulon]

i believe sloughing off means the release of lots of slime by the coral,particularily when stressed or shedding. :wink:

yep. i just like to say "sloughing".