Finger Leather

[Shawn_epicurious]

So, there are some things about this guy I really don’t understand. He will stay full and happy for a week or two at a time and then suddenly deflate and stay that way for a day or two. I cannot see any logic to it. Yes, he will deflate like that sometimes after a water change, but really, I have seen him do it with none of the numbers I measure moving at all. I am assuming it is just normal behavior.

Is this normal?

The first pic is fully deflated... the second pic is him right now

 

[JCTReefer]

Leathers shed every so often as they grow. This also rids them of any algae growth. This deflation your seeing could be due to that. They have a whitish waxy slime coating they sloth off. Have you noticed any of this when it’s deflated? I would bet that’s what your seeing.

 

[JCTReefer]

Here’s an example of my toadstool leather. It deflates for a few days every so often and sheds.
Sometimes the shedding is more obvious than other times. Here’s a couple of old pics.
Before and after.

 

[mindme]

So, there are some things about this guy I really don’t understand. He will stay full and happy for a week or two at a time and then suddenly deflate and stay that way for a day or two. I cannot see any logic to it. Yes, he will deflate like that sometimes after a water change, but really, I have seen him do it with none of the numbers I measure moving at all. I am assuming it is just normal behavior.

Is this normal?

The first pic is fully deflated... the second pic is him right now

It's normal.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Leathers shed every so often as they grow. This also rids them of any algae growth. This deflation your seeing could be due to that. They have a whitish waxy slime coating they sloth off. Have you noticed any of this when it’s deflated? I would bet that’s what your seeing.

I have seen that... : ) ...not everytime...

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Here’s an example of my toadstool leather. It deflates for a few days every so often and sheds.
Sometimes the shedding is more obvious than other times. Here’s a couple of old pics.
Before and after.

I have one of those too : ) the color on yours is better than mine lol.. could be Pic editing Lol (I edit heavily too ) Mine does exactly that also. (Mine is way bigger : p )

 

[JCTReefer]

I have one of those too : ) the color on yours is better than mine lol.. could be Pic editing Lol (I edit heavily too ) Mine does exactly that also. (Mine is way bigger : p )

Here’s a more recent pic under white lighting. When I take a pic under blues I use a filter. If I don the pics turn out horrible. Lol. The pic in blue is actually pretty close to what it looks like at night.
This toadstool has grown like crazy. I trimmed the cap down to almost nothing a year ago. Now it back to volley ball size again!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not abnormal A regular degree of flow is needed to help it shed before a film forms on their surface and a little iron in the water. Moderate light and salinity range of 1.024-1.026

 

[PTXReef]

My leathers do the same! They can be very extended and fluffy and then go through a period of a couple days to at most a week of sulking before they become puffy again. I usually raise the flow a bit (moderate flow), which helps them shed and the next day they'll be full extended.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Here’s a more recent pic under white lighting. When I take a pic under blues I use a filter. If I don the pics turn out horrible. Lol. The pic in blue is actually pretty close to what it looks like at night.
This toadstool has grown like crazy. I trimmed the cap down to almost nothing a year ago. Now it back to volley ball size again!

Volloyball size..? Jeeeeez! Nope yours is bigger! Wow! Volleyball sized!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Not abnormal A regular degree of flow is needed to help it shed before a film forms on their surface and a little iron in the water. Moderate light and salinity range of 1.024-1.026

I have not been measuring iron... I ”think” I have decent flow on him...? He was a 1/3 that size 5 months ago... Light and salinity are good. Salinity stays between 34.9 and 35.5... normal is 35.2

 

[JCTReefer]

Volloyball size..? Jeeeeez! Nope yours is bigger! Wow! Volleyball sized!

The rock it’s on is about 18-19 inches tall. I’m so ready to get the new tank set up. Geez, what a slow process. It sucks when you run out of room!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

The rock it’s on is about 18-19 inches tall. I’m so ready to get the new tank set up. Geez, what a slow process. It sucks when you run out of room!

How many gallons in the pic?

 

[JCTReefer]

How many gallons in the pic?

Tank is a 54 corner tank. It’s about 23 inches tall and about 39 inches wide. If you measure the bow of the glass it’s about 43 1/2 inches. The short sides are about 27 inches front to back.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Not abnormal A regular degree of flow is needed to help it shed before a film forms on their surface and a little iron in the water. Moderate light and salinity range of 1.024-1.026

I have seen little shiny spots... very small.. that worried me... is that an iron issue?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have seen little shiny spots... very small.. that worried me... is that an iron issue?

Thats the film I was referring to. Give it a few gentle blast with a turkey baster to help loosen it

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

So, there are some things about this guy I really don’t understand. He will stay full and happy for a week or two at a time and then suddenly deflate and stay that way for a day or two. I cannot see any logic to it. Yes, he will deflate like that sometimes after a water change, but really, I have seen him do it with none of the numbers I measure moving at all. I am assuming it is just normal behavior.

Is this normal?

The first pic is fully deflated... the second pic is him right now

Zoom in on that : ) ...the 2nd pic : )

 

[JumboShrimp]

As others have said, “normal.” If you have enough water volume and good filtration to have several leathers without a toxin-war (I happen to love leathers), then you will increase the chances that at least one looks good at any given time. Lol! Best wishes.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

As others have said, “normal.” If you have enough water volume and good filtration to have several leathers without a toxin-war (I happen to love leathers), then you will increase the chances that at least one looks good at any given time. Lol! Best wishes.

You rock! Thank you

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Tank is a 54 corner tank. It’s about 23 inches tall and about 39 inches wide. If you measure the bow of the glass it’s about 43 1/2 inches. The short sides are about 27 inches front to back.

Really nice tank!