Toadstool

[manny]

Well, I got this toadstool leather a couple of days ago and when I got him I kept moving him around trying to position him right. Since he's been here he's only partially opened up once and today he's all hunched over at his "stalk" I guess it's called. Is he ok?

[Tim Marvin]

Is it getting water current across it? If so just leave it alone and don't touch it any more.

[manny]

Yes, alot...k, won't touch anymore

oh, and so I don't sound too ignorant. I kept moving him cause he wouldn't stay put. It was hard to find a place in my rocks where he would stay and the current wouldn't blow him off.

[Tim Marvin]

They will hunch over from time to time, but they also sense your hands in the water and close up. It is best to touch corals as little as possible. I always baste them off after I touch one also, not sure if it helps any but it makes me feel better.

[manny]

Thanks for helpin Tim :)

[Tim Marvin]

It will attach to surrounding rock in a week or two if you can get it to stay put. Glad I could help. Leathers are pretty hardy so I wouldn't worry too much.

[::pete::]

I always baste them off Baste ?

[Tim Marvin]

I use like a turkey baster to target feed with and I also use it to spray, baste if you will, across the coral if I have touched them.

[MikeP]

They just don't like being handled. Another incentive to not handle them is many exude all kinds of smelly goop that gets into your skin!

I have found toadstools like a little bit of flow and decent light - they will get by with less but put it in the right spot and they grow like weeds - I have a long polyp one thats growing about 1/2" + a month.

[GaryP]

Manny,

Toadstools are primarily photosynthetic. So make sure it is getting plenty of light. They won't eat plankton type foods. Its thought that they mainly eat very small stuff like bacteria, as well as absorb nutrients from the water.

Mine has gotten huge. It takes up about 1/3 of my 75 gal. under 440 watts of VHO. He did real well under 220 watts in my 50 gal. for several years. I guess I'll have to frag him one of these days but he is just go gorgeous I hate to mess with him.

Gary

[manny]

I've already learned about the "smelly goop", unfortunately. After learning that I just used my tongs. I think I have him placed ok. He's up higher in my tank with good water flow and I hope enough light from my pc's