Leather Toadstool Not Behaving... Help

[misschristi]

I rescued a Leather Toadstool from my friend, I believe it has been stung quite a while ago (6mths to a year ago) and it left a large hole in the stalk/stem. The crown is fine and it extends its 'tentacles' it just wont stand up.

I don't really want to poke and prod it to see whether it still has a hole or whether it has regenrated as I know they can be temperamental!!! I'm just worried that it will never stand again and am wondering if there is anything I can do to maybe encourage it to stand?

I thought it may resolve the problem itself with the proper water parameters (the person who had it before really didn't care for it!) and just being left alone for a while (its been with me for about 4 months now) and still wont stand!

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated,

Many thanks,

Christi

[MeuserReef]

Christi, Try to see if you can use some means of mechanical support to position it so that it stands up.

I just moved our Toadstool Leather into our new tank and in the process, it sort of "bent" over at the base and would not stand up once mounted in the new tank. I took a zip tie and loosely attached it around the "trunk" of the leather. I then took another zip tie and looped it through the first tie and then around a nearby rock so that the zip ties were holding it up. My plan is to leave it this way for a few months and hope that the leather will stand on its own again.

Good luck!

[Dragonist]

I interested in getting a leathercoral ! Are they hard to keep? What kind of light do I need?

[misschristi]

Originally Posted by Dragonist

I interested in getting a leathercoral ! Are they hard to keep? What kind of light do I need?

This one seems easy to keep... i've had no problems with it, apart from the neglect of course!!

[Dragonist]

Originally Posted by misschristi

This one seems easy to keep... i've had no problems with it, apart from the neglect of course!!

Cool what kind of leather is it?

[misschristi]

its just a common leather toadstool

go to saltwaterfish.com and type in leather toadstool there will be a couple of options there, you can see what they look like and it will tell you a bit about them!

Have fun!!

[aquawolf]

These corals are pretty hardy, need moderate light, can be kept easily under power compacts, and medium flow. The flow is more to help them out when they molt and are trying to slough off the outer layer of tissue.

Josh has a good idea about using something to help stand it up as well. I have built rock rubble towers around one before and that worked as well. The only thing to keep in mind is they can, and will, attach to just about anything. So Josh will need to make sure the zip tie does not become assimilated into the trunk, while in my case a few of the rubble pieces had to stay where they were unless I wanted to frag the trunk of the leather.

[Dragonist]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

These corals are pretty hardy, need moderate light, can be kept easily under power compacts, and medium flow. The flow is more to help them out when they molt and are trying to slough off the outer layer of tissue.

Josh has a good idea about using something to help stand it up as well. I have built rock rubble towers around one before and that worked as well. The only thing to keep in mind is they can, and will, attach to just about anything. So Josh will need to make sure the zip tie does not become assimilated into the trunk, while in my case a few of the rubble pieces had to stay where they were unless I wanted to frag the trunk of the leather.

sounds awesome...and when you referr to light moderate...will 15 wats in a 55g work?

[aquawolf]

15 watts of light over a 55g will not be enough to keep this coral happy as it does need some photosynthesis. If you are planning on keeping any corals in the 55 then you are going to want to start looking into a lighting upgrade. Your best bet for all around good lighting would be to use a T5 fixture.

[Dragonist]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

15 watts of light over a 55g will not be enough to keep this coral happy as it does need some photosynthesis. If you are planning on keeping any corals in the 55 then you are going to want to start looking into a lighting upgrade. Your best bet for all around good lighting would be to use a T5 fixture.

yeah i will...just the upgrade is a $169.00 light + moonlight...have to spend money for a xtra car to fix my e21(81 bmw 320i) and i have to loan wife money this check!

what will the correct watts per gallon for this coral?

[specter]

The old rule of thumb was 3 to 4 watts per gallon of PC lighting 10K daylight plus 620nm Actinic for Softies, Zoes and some LPS. The rules always change so... this may not apply any more.

Good luck!

[aquawolf]

The watts per gallon thing is outdated now. You should be looking at a T5 fixture so it will be a 48" and probably 4 54 watt bulbs in it. Individual reflectors are better than a single parabolic reflector, but the price goes up accordingly. If I am not mistaken I got an email the other day and I think www.petsolutions.com may be having a sale on T5 lighting. If you check the classifieds and Craigs List you may also find someone that is trying to sell a fixture.

[Dragonist]

very populat lps www.tanquilscape.com told me a i can get a t5 fixture 36in for 169.00 guy told me comes with light(don't recall wattage) and a moonlight...want it but have yet to drive out there and see it!

[aquawolf]

I hope it works out for you.