Leather rotting away!

[fishyvet]

I have a leather problem! My new (~ 3 weeks old in my tank, large colony about 10-12in across) finger leather is begining to rot away. The disease process seems to be localized to a few tips on one side. The lesions appear as if the outer skin is gone (no polyps showing) and the internal skeleton of the leather is visible. I know that leathers can be prayed upon by some mollusks and nudibrachs so an extended Lugols dip was performed today (10 drops/L for 4hrs). My plan is to observe for disease progression over the next 48 hrs. If it seems no better, or worse, I plan to do a fresh water dip and debride/frag necrotic areas. Only reference I could find was a article written by Eric Borneman for aquarium.net (http://www.reefs.org/library/aquarium_net/0697/0697_3.html). I had a white leather that succumbed to a similar disease (it received no treatment other than altering his flow and lighting). All other fish and coral's doing well and water parameters check out. We do ~15% water change every 2 weeks so I don't think trace elements are an issue. Am I missing a big disease of leathers or the treatment of choice? Anybody with similar experiences?

Photo is post dip

 

[tmplge]

Leathers can be subject to some sort of fungal rot that just eats them away. they become brittle and literaly just fall apart when touched. If the dips dont work, pull ilt out and slice the infected parts with a razor. Cut where it seems health already. MAybe you can even frag it after that just incase something happens, youll have a backup pice. Make sure after cutting it you keep it out of the tank in QT for at least an hour and make sure to run carbon in QT and your display.

 

[fishyvet]

Well, there has been a bit of progression since the dip. The LFS suggested that it be placed with extra flow on the affected area. He said that he sometimes sees it in corals traumatized during the shippment process. My LFS has generally been a good source for me so I am going with it for now. I plan on doing another iodine dip tomorrow. I am reluctant to frag the colony if I can avoid it. I will take another pic tomorrow to document progression. I am open to any additional advice.

 

[JonK]

Cutting off the areas that are diseased is probably your best option. It's quick and easy.

 

[johnnybravo234]

I had a similar experience. I cut the affected portions off and loosely elastic banded them to small rocks. They didnt open up and looked like they were on their way out for a few weeks and then all the sudden all three came out one by one. Don't compromise the mother colony, amputate the infected areas. Make sure you are running carbon.. that thing looks ****ed.

 

[johnnybravo234]

I had a similar experience. I cut the affected portions off and loosely elastic banded them to small rocks. They didnt open up and looked like they were on their way out for a few weeks and then all the sudden all three came out one by one. Don't compromise the mother colony, amputate the infected areas. Make sure you are running carbon.. that thing looks ****ed. Did you acclimate it to the lights properly? Where is it located in the tank. Was the tank it came from lit by mh lights? Although they can tolerate a ton of light, they are sensitive to sudden changes.

 

[fishyvet]

It was under mh when I bought it. It's currently about 6in from the water's surface (1st week it was on the bottom) and it looks a lot happier in my tank than it did in the LFS. It is all expanded and polyped out (except for the area without skin). I put a pump in it's general direction so now it has more direct flow to the affected area. I seriously doubt it being due to lighting because of lesion location.

 

[Grit]

Use a new clean razor and cut the bad area off. It will heal quickly.

 

[aphenes]

I agree with all of the prior answers.
More water motion, as well as Lugols dips will most likely help.
I would personally do some water testing also.
I have found that when leather corals like Sinularia sp. have the sclerite skeletal structure showing and falling off, it typically indicates low magnesium and/ or sulfate in the system.
It could be an ion antagonism related issue, meaning your major ions are out of ratio with each other.....
Something to maybe look into!
Good luck!!