Umbrella Leather (Sarcophyton) not opening up

[Faraday's Cage]

I got an Umbrella Leather coral about a week or 10 days ago and he did the whole waxy-layer thing but he still hasn't opened up his polyps. Any idea on why this is happening?

 

[Faraday's Cage]

Bump.

He is looking worse, with 2 small chunks fallen out of him.
What are ideal conditions for an umbrella leather?

 

[gflat65]

By chunks, do you mean living tissue (no black goo)? If it's just dropping pieces but doesn't have any go associated with it, it is likely just dropping babies. Could be a response to stress (survival technique). I generally don't worry too much about leathers until they start goo'ing up or start disintegrating. I've got one that went without showing polyps for over a year...

 

[Faraday's Cage]

Disintegrated is the right word for it.
It has a couple of spots where a chunk fell out and there are blackish (not sure if its goo) areas on it, near the chunk-holes. I removed it from the tank into a small plastic container and noticed that it was emitting a ghastly smell, like something decomposing (maybe ammonia). It is currently in the container. Here are some pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/taktoa/LeatherCoralDying?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXT_9D0vsjXEA&feat=directlink

-FC

 

[Faraday's Cage]

I just cut off the offending portions of the coral. I was thinking of flushing it anyway, so I did a drastic measure.

-FC

 

[smogl00]

If I'm not mistaken that looks like a yellow fiji leather. Notoriously difficult to keep corals. Mine was an absolute mess for six months or so. If they start to get black spots on them it's not a good sign. Many suggest fragging off healthy pieces and trying to rubberband them to live rock rubble to get babies. It's at least worth a shot.