Green Sarcophyton

[BradMugs]

My Toadstool Leather has developed two about 1/4 inch white spots (actually one looks like it may have a hole in it) on it. The top is about 6" in diameter and when I see it it's normally difficult to see the base under the green (what ever they are) but as I'm off today I was able to see its surface and noticed the two spots so I don't know how long they have been there.

Is something eating this coral and if so what? What else could it be?

Thanks

Brad

 

[gflat65]

I have a toadie that does that a lot, too. For several years, it continuously developed what looked like white lesions (but no bacterial bloom around them), mostly around the edge of the cap. The lesions would increase in size until a frag dropped. NOthing I did seemed to matter, as the lesions were always there. They have stopped now, but I couldn't tell you the difference between now and 5 years ago in regards to that toadie...

 

[BradMugs]

Thanks for the reply - I was hoping for something like this - the holes are getting larger but like you said they are just holes, don't look like anything is growing on them and are too even to be bite marks.

So, maybe I'm going to be a father - that would be nice.

 

[jdallred]

Sounds like what you are describing is the coral "self-propagating". In 2002 I had two green polyp leathers that started doing this and continued this "œself-propagating" for three years until I finally sold one of the colonies and then the other stopped. Between the two corals they produced well over 150 frags in that three year period.

When one of these corals starts this process typically you'll notice a small hole forming in the center of the cap next to the stalk, although the hole can sometimes start further out on the cap. This hole will continue to grow larger until it reaches the outside edge of the cap. After the hole reaches the outside edge the cap will start to peel off around the stalk forming two strips on each side. If left alone, it will continue to peel around the stalk dropping frags from the cap. Before the frags drop from the cap they will start to form the stalks they will need to be able attach to the rock below or around the coral. To speed up this process and so you don't lose any frags you can take a very sharp pair of scissors or razorblade and remove the frag before it drops. This process will continue until the entire cap has peeled off, except for what is directly above the stalk. The entire process can take anywhere from four to eight months. One of the corals that I had propagated much more quickly than the other. Instead of propagating the way described above, it would start with multiple holes (3 or 4) and end up separating the entire cap (except for what is directly on top of the stalk) within a couple of months. After the process is complete the cap will grow back to its original size although the time period for this will depend on the tank conditions. I used to have pics of the process but I can't seem to locate them and the ones that I had posted on RC are gone.

 

[BradMugs]

Well, it's been about a month and the two holes are now about the size of a quarter but they seem to have stopped growing. About the only change I'm seeing is my two clowns don't both go in the Sarc at the same time any more (not enough enclosed space?).