Leather Toadstool

[Sarahbell430]

Got a leather toadstool last week with a few "babies" attached. It hasn't seemed happy anywhere Ive put it and hasn't extended at all, until today slightly. I just upgraded from a dual t5 to a quad t5 with 2 MH. It only just started creeping on when the halides came on an hour ago. Its placed about halfway up the tank with medium flow.
My big question is - one of the small "babies" at the bottom is open and happy every day....is it because its gotten less light?

 

[mcgyvr]

pretty darn normal for a leather coral to stay closed for a few days to a week or more..
So long as its not melting (and they go pretty quick) its just fine and should be left alone..
Leathers can take plenty of light.. let um have it..

 

[45commando]

Stop moving the Leather about & let it just adjust to the flow/ lighting in one location. Every time you move it, it has to acclimate to the flow & light intensity in the new location. If it's still all closed up after a week or so, then try moving it & leave for a week & observe. Leathers will also sometimes close up for a few days to slough off a membrane, but again just let them be. HTH.

 

[Sarahbell430]

Thank you both. i was moving him daily to try to find a spot that made him happy - but I will leave him be. It looks like it might be melting now but i will leave it alone and see what happens. I think i just got confused that the "baby" on the bottom seemed happy wherever it was.
Patience

Thanks

 

[Jixar243]

I agree with leaving it alone. When i first got mine, it closed up for a few days and I too thought it was dying. Now i have had it for about 2 years.

 

[Sarahbell430]

It looks a little better today - its 'Out more" but is still slouched and melted. I am leaving it alone though

 

[mcgyvr]

Last picture looks totally fine.. Just give it more time to open all the way..
Its not melting/dying at all

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

This is something that you should become accustomed to in the reefing hobby. When you first put new inhabitants into your tank they will have a period of down time. One thing to help minimize this effect is to make sure you understand what the creature prefers, ie. flow, light, etc. It looks like yours is coming around nicely. I usually only get a little concerned when it's been a week or more that something is looking sketchy. Happened once with some Zoas and so it took a little moving around and time but now they are going nuts. Good luck and don't panic!!

 

[Sarahbell430]

Thanks everyone! It is looking fantastic today - I guess i expected too much too fast.
even one of the clowns is starting to take interest in it

I do a a zoa frag thats in high in the tank so - high light and medium flow for about a week now and its only semi open. Should I give it more time or move it lower in the tank?

 

[mcgyvr]

In general its best to start corals down lower and move them up over a few weeks or more to acclimate them to your light..
I usually give new corals a good couple days (4-5 days) in a spot and if they don't look happy then I will move them.

 

[ReeferNoob4ever]

I found my zoas really liked low flow.