leather coral

[conk]

I have a flower leather coral. It is very big and won't sit on a rock; it droops over. It tenacles aren't as long as it was when I bought it but to me it is still growing and looks like it wants to split. Is it suppose to stand straight up and form a cuo at the top thanks

 

[blennybabe]

How long have you had it? If you just got it, or jsut changes something in your tank (lights, additives, changed filter etc...) let the coral adjust to your tank. If you have had it for a while, I would guess that it is going to split. I think I heard somewhere that they can develop a waxy coating and they need to shed this periodically when they grow. (sort of like shedding its skin). Keep an eye on your water parameters and give it a couple of days. It might also be good to ask this question in the reef keeping forum. You might get some better answers. Also, run a search on leathers and youll probably get your answer. Good Luck.

 

[javajoe]

I looked at your photo- i agree with blennybabe-- give it time. AS for it being a flower leather, are you sure? it looks a little more like an umbella leather to me. I dont think its ready to split yet, but if you were to frag it, i'm sure it would be fine. just watch for any diseased areas, and remove them if they form. as it droops, make sure it doesn't fall upside down-- mine did that all the time until i epoxied it onto the rock. most leathers of this type do get a film on them from time to time, usually for a week or so, and then it kinda peels off and it usually is bigger. i've noticed this with both my umbrella and my rose leather.
YOu may also want to play around with your lighting. in my case, my umbrella leather was getting too much light, so i covered the section of my VHO bulbs right over the leather for a week or so with tinfoil, and then slowly removed the foil until it was fully exposed again. basically got it used to the bright lights gradually.
If this is a recent addition, give it time--- it really may take a month or more till it looks like it did in the store, but just hang in there. i was SO ready to retyurn mine after a month, but its now one of the most beutiful corals in our tank. my molly miller blenny likes to sit on it and rest from time to time!