Why would leather die?

[copepod]

I have a big, or I should say it was big, yellow leather. It was doing great and now it is all pulled in and has brown edges. Pretty sure it is dying. Anybody know what could cause this. Everything else in tank is fine.

 

[mungus]

It could be molting. They do this from time to time. Make sure you have enough water flow on it so when it sheds its slime coat that it will be carried away.

Brian

 

[ronj]

we need to know more about the tank....what size tank,what kind of lighting, any nearby corals(some can be toxic),how much flow,and also, what are the water parameters????? also, is this a Yellow Figi Leather, or just a common sarcophyton leather??? the Yellow Figi's are a bit harder to keep!!

 

[matts125]

if you have a yellow figi leather and its turning brown at the edges then you most likey have a bacterial infection and you should cut the bad stuff off.
the figi's are pretty tough to keep for some reason they are prone to infections...

Matt

 

[ronj]

you may need to clip the infected edges off(if it is an infection), but first, get a pic of it so that we know for sure what the problem is!!!

 

[Brenden]

Pic would be nice. Does it look like brown slime?

 

[Reefbound]

I just had something similar happening to my yellow Fiji leather... It looked liked the edges were browning and it actually looked like something took a bite out of it... I actually took it out of the water and took a good look and found two slug looking creatures eating the leather on the bottom side. They were almost clear looking except the yellow in its stomache...

 

[copepod]

Thanks for all the info. I'll try to get a pic and will look for any slugs but the rock it is on is really to big to take out.

 

[copepod]

Here's a poor pic. If I disturb it a lot of white powdery stuff comes off. It was quite a bit bigger than this before.

 

[matts125]

That is a bacterial infection and all the brown is dead flesh, next it will start to decompose and cause water problems. I havent ever had any luck getting those to come back once they start to brown like that..
sorry I cant give you any better news about this

just my 2 cents....


Matt

 

[copepod]

Thanks. Strange because I got this a couple months ago from some guy and it was about dead then. Small, not out. He didn't keep his tank up. But after I put it in my tank it grew great until last week, now this. I have been getting a little cyan in my tank and have been doing a lot of sand cleaning. Maybe it got it because of that? Anyway, I'll see what I can do to keep it alive.

 

[ronj]

that leather may be done for!!! it looks pretty bad...something is probably wrong in the tank!!!! what lighting do you have??? what are your water parameters???are you adding any additives????? if it gets worse, which it probably will, i would remove it before it degrades the water quality

 

[diablo]

could it have come into contact with another coral that could have stung it?

 

[ronj]

what kind of coral is that right under it???? it looks similar to a giant cup mushroom..if it is a mushroom, that could very well be the problem!!!

 

[copepod]

It is a hairy mushroom but not as close as it looks. Can't touch it, about a foot away. Checked my water today, everything fine except nitrates a little high - 12 or so. Not real surprised because I am stiring up sand getting rid of cyan. Have PC lights that I might need to upgrade. I think this leather is history anyway. I did dip it in iodine last night and all the brown spots are gone but we will see.

 

[ronj]

definately keep it away from any other toxic corals that you have..try to keep some good alternating flow on it...maybe it will turn out well!!!!!!