How tough is a toadstool?

[aquarius77]

I bought one of these on ebay and it came in looking like hell. After a few days it opened but it also popped off the rock. I sliced the stem off becuase it did not seem the same as my other toad's stem, it was all hard and going brown. I sliced the stem off very close to the cap (where it looked healthy) and i jammed a plastic tooth pic through it. I had to really push to get the toothpic through the leather and as i pushed it was like i was squeezing water and brown stuff out of the leather. it is opening up but not fully(imo).

How much can these guys handle? Whats your thoughts on mine, will it be ok? I paid a pretty penny for it and its barly 3/4 an inch around. I would like to not lose it.

 

[Roger928]

Should be OK. They're really tough when acclimated well. Do give it good water flow, lighting, and TLC.

 

[aquarius77]

It looks to be putting out polyps and i can see green but its not expanding them, they are like nubs? Has anyone had an experience like this? I will take some pics later this afternoon and post them.

 

[pasenah]

they tend to sulk for a while , mabye a week , and then it should be ok.

 

[woodycb]

dosing some iodine will help him heal faster.

 

[aquarius77]

I dont have an iodine test kit, this leather is in my sps tank, dosing the tank is not an option. Could i remove and give a quick iodine dip? Would that aid healing or add to stress?
There is one spot on the tiny guy that seems to be slime-ing or maybe even deteroriating. I think it might need some help. I will try for some pics right now.



Pics, you can see the spot im talking about pretty well.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c373/euchre_skillz/sick corals/100_1769.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c373/euchre_skillz/sick corals/100_1779.jpg


This guy arrived tiny as could be, i would hate to have to slice that off. What do you all think?

 

[darkcirca]

I will say, I got mine off a lady who had acquired a reef tank, had no lights either. Poor thing must have been in there for at least a week, if not 2 or 3 without lights, then spent 8 hours in a bag at my work, and was acclimating to my 90 gallon with t-5's. Took it a bit over a week for it to full open up and start showing it's polyps, and about a month later it looked almost perfect.

 

[woodycb]

I would not do an iodine dip. Toadstool is pretty tough, if you are keeping up with your water changes he is probably getting enough iodine to help him out.

 

[GoingPostal]

Mine are extremely hardy, I bought a medium sized one a couple years ago and it's starting rotting away pretty bad but I wanted the rock it came on so I took it out of the water for about 15 minutes while I chiseled as much off as possible to prevent water fouling. Now I have six toadstools. They just don't like getting moved, mine won't open for weeks sometimes until they settle in.

 

[aquarius77]

It looks to be doing better by the day. I cant belive the abuse that little sucker took.

Now i need to get it attached and pull that MASSIVE toothpick out of it.

 

[thecichlidpleco]

My toadstool took almost a month to fully open and expand, so patience young padawan.

 

[aquarius77]

UPDATE!

UPDATE!

Well i guess they are pretty tough, even the old stem has sprouted polyps.



Here it is after the surgery:

Here it is just a few mins ago!

The stem that i haked off, there were 2 peices and the other sprouted polyps as well but i think it took a ride in the current.

I just wanted to update and share my experience. I think im going to pull the toothpick out in a few days, anyone have any pointers on how i should go about that?