Leather w/retracted polyps, 4 days now

[Jan]

I've had this cup-shaped leather, green polyps on purple base, for about 3 weeks now. It did fine at first but 4-5 days ago it retracted its polyps and hasn't put them back out. It had a couple pieces of gravel on it, with polyps still extended. After polyps were retracted for 1 day I removed the gravel.

On day 2 I noticed a shiny, wet-looking coating which I read is a waxy substance produced to help rid leathers of irritants. This went away by day 3, but polyps still retracted. I moved the leather to a different spot, with good flow. Closest corals are ~5" away (xenia/anthelia on one side and monti-cap frag on the other). There is a majano about 4" away.

Still retracted on day 4, and a slight brownish tinge on some edges, almost like a sunburn. This leather is now on bottom of 24" tank, under 175 watt MH (15K). Halides run 8 hrs/day.

What should I do? I could move it to my 30 gallon cube, which will have 150 watt MH 14K on it, actually giving higher watt/gallon than I have in the 120.

P.S. THere is a large toadstool leather about 11" away, which is doing great.

 

[jamiehill]

Check around the base of the leather. I had one that closed up for a few days with no apparent reason. Turned out there was an aptasia that was stinging it. Once I got rid of that the leather perked right up.

 

[Jan]

Will do. THanks, Jamie.

 

[RocketScientist]

Alrighty, with leathers more light isn't always good! Many of the leathers you can get away with less lighting so. Also from experience with my Green Polyped Toadstool I would advise against high flow across it. Mine simply hated that and being so close to the halide. Move him to a zone which gets very "lower" flow and less light. Mine show polyp extension even under just my attinics and 50/50s so perhaps move him into a cave that gets some light and then gradually work him out of the shade into more and more light. Eventually either he'll acclimate to the higher light levels or you'll find the level of light he needs and you'll be able to find other nitches in the tank for him. Just some things to try.

Also the aptasia is a good call too. Though once the toadstools get large enough it doesn't affect them as much. At least my large Toadstool doesn't show any care for the ones that crawl onto her under belly. But then again she is about a 1.5' in diameter and the aptasia is only like an 1/4" of an inch.

 

[Jan]

Thanks, Brian. I'll give it a try.

 

[Jan]

update

when I got home from work last night there was much slime and brown stuff on the leather. Within a few minutes, this substance started to lift off and I was there, ready with the turkey baster to suck it off! :lol:

After an hour it was totally clean and I don't think any of the gunk got on the other corals. At 2 hours post-shed its tentacles started to pock out again. All seemed to be well.

 

[RocketScientist]

Glad to hear it is doing better!

 

[jesshimom]

Jan all my leathers have done that. Or my used to be leathers that is. The toadstools were kind of fussy sometimes, then they'd snap out of it and suddenly be out and then change their mind. I always found the best bet was to leave them alone. They more you move and fuss with them the longer they stay closed up. It is very funny, I had two different blennies and a clown that would sleep in it opened up and it wouldn't care, polyps out and everything. But you barely look at it and it would close up, sometimes for a couple days.

I'd not worry, just let it get settled. If you move it, it starts it's fussiness all over again.

 

[ronj]

leathers always close up for some time....all of mine have done it...i would just leave it alone and let them be unless it started to look neucrotic around the edges

 

[Jan]

Hi Colleen! Long time no see.

This leather is better, it is in my new 30 gallon cube as of yesterday. I moved this mushroom leather, my toadstool, feather dusters, and GSP into the cube. My big toadstool started splitting this afternoon. I'm going to be a grandma!