Is this Toadstool dying or dead?

jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
So I have been having difficulty with my Neon Green Toadstool (added 9/30/07). Here is a picture of it in it's happier days (12/6/07)

Well shortly after this picture was taken, it stopped extending it's polyps. It shed and extended polyps for a day or two and stopped again. It shed again, extended a day or two and stopped. Here is a pic of what it looked like when it would not open from (12/14/07)

During the 3rd time, it was recommended that the coral was unhappy in it's place so I relocated it to a spot higher up with less flow. It extended again for a day or two and stopped (4th time). Now it has been 3+ weeks without extending and it appears to be smaller. Here is a pic from tonight (2/25/08)

It is visibly smaller and kind of puckered. It is still firm to the touch, but I am convinced it is dead.
Before adding this guy, I added...
Green Zoanthus - 8/18/07
Euphyllia paracora - 8/18/07
Caulastrea furcata - 9/3/07
Actinodiscus - 9/3/07
Orange Zoanthus - 9/30/07
After adding this guy on 9/30, I have added...
Rush Zoanthus - 11/16/07
Hydnophora rigida - 11/16/07
Stylophora pistillata - 11/16/07
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi - 12/6/07
Pink Palythoa - 12/9/07
Blue & Green Zoanthus - 2/9/08
All of my other corals are doing very well. Just this "impossible to kill" coral is suffering.

Any ideas? If it is not dead, but dying, what should I do?
Thanks, John
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
Well he was happy in his spot on the sand for a while, then in early December he starts acting up. In January someone on here suggested that I move him up higher in the rocks with less flow. He opened up for 1 day and now is closed and has been for 3+ weeks.
I would move him again if that is a good idea. Anyone know what a toadstool looks like when it dies?
 
J

jrthomas40

Guest
it could be sheding...leathers have a tendacy do stop extending polyps during the sheding the process
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
Originally Posted by jrthomas40
http:///forum/post/2490704
it could be sheding...leathers have a tendacy do stop extending polyps during the sheding the process
Well it has shed 3 times since 12/14 and this time (4th time closed up) it has been closed for over 3 weeks. Is that normal?
 
J

jrthomas40

Guest
as long as it is not drooping and you can see places where the flesh is starting to decay or deterriorate it should bounce back....i had one that was closed up for about 2 weeks or so and it wouldnt stand up but the tissue remained in tact and eventually it bounced back as long as it is getting good flow and lighting...keep an eye for the skin at the base decaying
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
Should I move it off it's rock? I can also move it into my Fuge or QT. Any suggestions there?
 
H

h2ocrazy

Guest
Just send it over my way, leathers do pretty good in my tank ;) .
It is just not liking the areas you are putting it in or you are moving it around too much. The reason it got smaller in the third pic is that it was getting more light.
Another factor may be the increase in corals you have added,may have changed something in your water, do some water changes and go from there. placement is not a big issue with them, I have moved mine everywhere in my tank , high to low flow and high to low lighting and it only stays closed for a few minutes. I have had mine for about 3 months now and is the same type as yours although the polyps on mine don't extend out as much and mine has gone from 2" to about 4-5" in these 3 months.
As stated before it is not dying yet, but it is certainly not happy. Just find a good place where it will not be bothered with medium flow and lighting and leave it alone. It should move on it's own eventually if it wants to. Very slowly, but it will.
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member

Originally Posted by nacl freak
http:///forum/post/2490919
Just a thought ,could there be some kind of chemical warfare affecting it?
I figured that might be the case as it started acting up when I put the brain in there. LPS and Leathers don't get along too well right?
Anyway, here is a left and right tank shot. Any suggestions on where to move it?


Note: the clam died and the brain has been moved to where the clam is in the right side picture. The toadstool is in the upper left side near the candycane.
 
nacl freak

nacl freak

Member
As far as placement, hopefully someone will have a suggestion.I am new at this and still learning. Are you running carbon? If so, when was it changed last? Carbon will help neutralize the chemicals. Good luck
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
I am not sure that I would consider it "running carbon", but I have a bag of carbon in my sump. I added it about the time that I moved the toadstool to it's current positoin so it is about a month old.
 
nacl freak

nacl freak

Member
Again I'm fairly new to this hobby,but I've read you need to replace your carbon every two weeks. Also, place your carbon where as much water will actually flow thru it for optimum results.
 
bodacious

bodacious

Member
Move the toadstool over to where the clam was and move the brain some where else. I have 3 toadstools in my tank one of mine took a month to start coming back out
 
jpc763

jpc763

Active Member
Here are are 2 pictures.
The first picture is the first time he closed up 12/14/07

The second picture is from tonight 2/26/08

Why does the second picture look so much worse? It almost looks like it has hardened and coralline is growing on it.
 
H

h2ocrazy

Guest
It seems from looking at your last picture your water quality may not be at its best and yes that toadstool is looking sick. You may want to try an iodine dip, possible QT with other medications try to nurse it back to health.
 
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