How Long is Too Long for no polyp extension on Toadstool?

[michfish5]

On 9/14 I purchased a toadstool leather for my DT. I acclimated and dipped it before putting it in. It looked good for about three days and then would not extend polyps anymore. I tried a couple of different locations but nothing worked. I tried low flow, higher flow, bottom, mid section. Still no polyps. It came attached to a very small piece of shell, not much to secure it with. Since I wasn't sure I found it's happy spot I did not secure it with epoxy. Sometimes a snail would knock it over and I would have to set it right again. I am sure this didn't help matters.

A month went by and I thought it started to look better (little tiny nubs on the the cap) but then nothing again. About 1 1/2 months go by, still no expansion. At this time I added a Frogspawn on the same side of the tank. No difference with anything. The FS looks great though.

At 2 month mark there was finally a little bit of polyp extension - about 1/4 inch. I thought I finally found the spot it would be happy. It's is on a rock about four inches up from the bottom of the tank. There is good flow there and light. I decided to use some putty to secure it to the rock so the snails would stop knocking it over. The next day the toadstool started expanding like crazy - no polys really but it was inflating like a balloon and the cap was forming a cup. I noticed that it was a shedding a bit around the base of the cap and stalk. There was a band of shedding material around the middle of the stalk like a belt. It's still there actually. I was so excited since I thought I finally turned the corner.

A day later, it shrunk back down and looks kind of cruddy again. Is this guy a goner or what? I know they go thru sheds but it has been over two months now without really any real expansion. Other corals in the vicinity are a colt coral, a yellow polyp, and the latest addition the frogspawn. The colt and the yellow polyp were all added at the same time and been in the same spot this whole time. On the opposite side of the tank I have a wall hammer, open brain, and tiny torch that I added the same day as the frogspawn. I am going to be moving the frogspawn up higher very soon. All LPS are looking good.

I am in a quandry because after all this time I finally attached it to a rock that is one of the rocks at the base of my reef structure. How would I get it off if I had to? Could this be chemical warfare? I am not running carbon because I thought that caused lateral line. Is that not the case anymore? I will start running carbon today since I see many people are suggesting that. But meanwhile, is 2 months too long to not hve expanded? And will there be a problem with the frogspawn near it? Is it the Colt? I am at a loss. Any help would be appreciated. My parameters are: temp 80.2, SG 1.024, pH 8.0, alk 9.1, PO4 .02, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate, Ca 425, Mg 1400. Thanks in advance.

 

[wireefman]

all of my toadies are in direct high flow... they haven't closed to shed in months..

 

[Bnaum85]

Can you post a picture? I've had mine for over four months. It looked great in the store. I've never seen it get back to looking right since it's been in my tank. Polyps don't extend far at all (picture below). I decided to order a frag of the same species as an experiment and the new frag is doing great with full polyp extension. The second picture shows (from left to right): different happy toadstool, frag size version of unhappy toadstool, big "unhappy" toadstool. I don't know what to do either.

 

[michfish5]

Yours look tons better than mine. Mine has no polyp extension or even hint of polyp on the cap. Been like that for 2 months with the exception of that one day when it got nubs and then started to blow up for a couple of hours before shrinking back down. I will post a pic soon. lt's still firm to to the touch so I am going to let it be until I hear otherwise.

 

[Spartan]

I'll chime in. Ive had a 5-6" diameter toadstool in the corner of my tank for about 5 years. It has grown to where I think flow from the corner return is bothering it. For reasons that I can't explain I've just left it there. It has stayed closed for at least 4 months occasionally just sending out a millimeter or two length of polyps. So they can survive like this for quite some time. Most likely somehting is irritating yours. Perhpas too much light?
This thread at least reminds me that I really should move mine. Thanks!

 

[michfish5]

Spartan when yours closed down for four months how did it look? Mine is still firm to the touch with it is so small and starting to look a little wrinkly. It is going to be difficult to remove it because it is glued to a rock at the base of my structure. Can it be cut off at the base under water or will that release toxin into the water and kill my other corals?

 

[michfish5]

Well I guess that almost 3 months is too long! I finally removed the toadstool this morning. It was so small and shriveled up and a couple of pieces were missing from it. Not sure if my emerald crab was picking at it or what. It just looked plain bad and some of the corals around it was not looking as happy as usual. I had a frogspawn about 6 inches away. I always wondered if the proximity to the frog was a problem but that the only location the toadstool opened at all before shriveling back to its final state.

After I removed the toadstool, all my Euphillias seem to perk up. Could the toad have been releasing toxins into the water as it was dying? I put in some fresh carbon to help things along just in case.

 

[reef_crazy5]

I have two toadstools that were perfect one day and then the next same thing no polyp extension for months now...didn't add anything at the time the closed up or anything like that. Only thing I can think of is my high nitrates. They are off the charts but they always have been and they did amazing before. I guess my question is is there any tour of coral disease or parasite or illness that would only affect leathers? I recently just purchased a much larger toadstool as well to see if a new one would open. I took a chance because it wasn't open at the store for a few days the manager said but it as cheap n huge n I wanted to see if this one would open. Like I should have known, this one hasn't opened. I have a finger leather that will go through phases too. For a few weeks in a row it will look great and for a few weeks it will look terrible. Don't do anything to change it it just happens it seems like. So again anyone know of anythig that would just affect leathers? N I'm convinced it's not the nitrates because everything else in the tank is thriving! If anything I think my tests just have a faulty reading for some reason cuz I've done everything I can think of to reduce the nitrate level just nothing seems to work. Please please help me with my leather problem! They look amazing with full polyp extension!!

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

i have a couple different leathers in my tank…i have had my devils hand leather close up for almost a year with no polyp extension…it then wakes up and goes absolutely haywire growth..my other leather seem to retract for weeks on end and then open again…i wouldn't worry too much if it is getting enough light, and enough flow..

 

[89Foxbody]

I see a torch right next to your toadstool above...euphyllia have sweeper tentacles that come out at night that may be stinging the base of your toadstool. Does it have any scarring or marks? This may have been the problem with OP's leather as well since he mentioned a frogspawn being nearby...

Leathers do engage in chemical warfare which may be why its neighbors were not looking their best.

 

[discocarp]

My tyree toadstool is going on 6 weeks now closed up. It is starting to look like it's finally about to shed though. I'm not worried about it in the slightest. It will be fine. I've had them close up way longer than that too.

 

[lostintheocean]

I recently added a toadstool and it tool a month before it started to show any signs of PE. I did not move it at all though as the more you move it and touch the longer it will take, they do not like that at all. It has slight PE for a month or so and now it has great PE and is starting to grow. This is the longest it has taken a leather in my tank to acclimate and open, I have 8 or so different leathers. As mentioned I would ensure no LPS is stinging it.

 

[Spartan]

For reasons that I can't explain I've just left it there. It has stayed closed for at least 4 months occasionally just sending out a millimeter or two length of polyps. So they can survive like this for quite some time. Most likely somehting is irritating yours. Perhpas too much light?
This thread at least reminds me that I really should move mine

So I never did move it. I have no further explanation, but at least I'm honest. That said it has never opened up in well over a year. The disc expands and contracts, and occasionally polyps try to pop up reaching a lenth of maybe 1-2mm but that's it. It hasn't grown, but hasnt shrunk either.
I really should move it...