Leather HELP

[Markster]

Here is pic of my toadstool leather. It has pale yellow and not reddish blotches on it. Any idea what's up with this softie?

[TexasState]

Flat worms? Try blasting a powerhead on it.

[GaryP]

My Sarcophyton does the same thing fairly often. I have never seen the red spots though. I think it may be the equivalent of doing a water change in an anemone, plate coral, or brain coral.

How long has it been like that? My guess is that it will go back to normal in a day or so. Sarcophyton is definitely the one of the hardiest corals there is.

Gary

[Tim Marvin]

Leather do best in good light and strong currents. I don't think it has any parasite on it, but it does look as if it is on the bottom with no current. They need the current to shed. If they can't shed off the tissue it will rot the leather. You can try blasting it with a baster and then put it closer to a powerhead or return.

[MikeP]

Looks like it's going to shed. I'd up flow / light like others suggested. IME Green/Yellow sarcophyton variants are more demanding in terms of light and flow. Any healthy toadstool will shed at least 1-2 times a month - the shed material can irritate other corals so try to keep it in high flow or blow it off with a baster and remove the sloughed off skin.

[Markster]

Thanks for the tips. I have moved it to a better position in the tank.

[DeletedAccount]

How is the leather lookin'?

[Markster]

It looks a little worse but seeing some signs of shedding.

[Sherri]

That's really interesting...I didn't know that about leathers...I have 2 and must have them in a decent current because I haven't "seen" any shedding of any sort. Is it visible or does it shed "when you aren't looking?" hehe In other words...is it noticible or only when there isn't enough current or dead spot? Thanks.

Sherri

[GaryP]

I've never noticed my mushroom shedding. It does pull in its polyps occasionally for a couple of days and I assume its shedding then.

Gary

[Markster]

I can tell becuase there are areas on the mushroom head that show natural color. The majority of the head is covered with some various colors of green and red. That are better colors than the yellow patches and red blotches. I expect to see some more incouraging signs this weekend. Keep you posted.

[Tim Marvin]

It will actually look as if it is peeling.

[Jimnorris]

Actually when my leather starts to shed my two angels will hang around it and eat the shedding layer. So I really do not see my leather shed also.
Jim

[Instar]

A totally happy leather may not ever shed a visible layer. Kalk and buffer can also make a happy one shed when we kalk up our
tanks for the sps. Same thing for some of the gorgonians. And then, everything has its season, including leathers. Some seasons
are made for shedding, some for growth and some for dormancy.