Help leather has a hole in it!!

[adoyle983]

All water parameters are good leather developed what looks like stretch marks then turned into a hole that is growing. I included a night photo is is acting normal.

 

[HgrReefs]

I used to have a lobophytum that would do this 3-4 times a year. It was as if it was dragging itself, as the piece would always end up blown across to the other side of the tank. The coral always remained healthy though.

Has it been retracting its polyps and staying deflated at all?

 

[adoyle983]

No all polyps extended and is acting normal other than the hole.

 

[Keith_0011]

I had one the size of two softballs that would do this from time to time. Usually it would bud of a few little ones about this time. Sometimes I would notice a little detritus laying inside of it right before this would happen.

 

[adoyle983]

So do you believe it is trying to reproduce or is damage?

 

[Keith_0011]

Maybe a little of both. I have never seen any ill effects long term, just growth upon growth.

 

[adoyle983]

Here's to hoping! Thanks yall

 

[adoyle983]

Update hole is now split to the side and you can see where it looks like it wants to turn and go back out to the side. All seems to be ok it has not changed its habits that I can physically see. Otherwise still seems healthy and happy atm I'm not concerned will keep yall updated. Sorry for the sideways photos.

 

[Culater94]

Mine did the same thing over the past few weeks, and now a little one is on my sand bed...

 

[Tahoe61]

It's just a simple means of asexual reproduction, not uncommon for Sarcophyton.

 

[adoyle983]

I am new to sw been doin fresh for years. So whenever something diff happens it puts me on alert. Glad to know I might be doing it right everything seems happy! Thanks again to all for the replies and articles.

 

[SantaMonicaHelp]

It looks beautiful though. Hope things are still good

~ CI

 

[afamousjohnson]

Dont worry. It is called budding. Where it tears itself and each piece will be a new leather but mini. It will generally do the entire outer edge around the whole thing making more holes as it goes. The pieces will be about an inch by an inch and by the looks of it you may have 5 or 6 new babies coming

 

[ycnibrc]

nothing to worry you will have more leather corals soon...you can help the process faster if you are brave enough to frag it.

 

[adoyle983]

Update:
Is still working on budding. There are 2 new splits in various parts of the leather still happy and healthy as ever. Will post some photos when I can get them bad angle at the moment.

 

[adoyle983]

Update so the final result of the initial hole was an inversion and not a reproduction. Really neat to watch the whole thing happen.

 

[RobReef]

Mine started that way about a year ago, 6 months later I had 2, now it's working on making 4. As long as it has extended polyps and isn't staying deflated, all is good.

 

[adoyle983]

Another update:
Looks awesome, has gotten about 2 to 2 1/2 inches larger since first hole. Has actually gained a green iridescent color since this process began. Coincidence? I'm not sure. No reproduction yet . Will update as changes occur.

 

[RobReef]

It's dividing. When there's either white or dark coloring around the edges, then it's time to worry.