How often does a toadstool shed and related questions?

Westside Guy · Jun 18, 2019

My toadstool seems to go through a shedding cycle every 3-4 days, is this normal? Also will it do better in low, medium or high flow and how much light would you recommend?

Westside Guy · Jun 18, 2019

xxkenny90xx · Jun 18, 2019

Is that the shedding in the 2nd pic? If so that isn't shedding, its just retracting it's polyps which is normal when its disturbed, unhappy, or sometimes for no reason it seems. When they shed they change colors and look like they're dying, it's a rare occurrence for mine (every couple years). As for flow I don't think they're very picky

Westside Guy · Jun 18, 2019

xxkenny90xx said:
Is that the shedding in the 2nd pic? If so that isn't shedding, its just retracting it's polyps which is normal when its disturbed, unhappy, or sometimes for no reason it seems. When they shed they change colors and look like they're dying, it's a rare occurrence for mine (every couple years). As for flow I don't think they're very picky

The second shot isn’t wonderful but it developed a shiny, waxy type surface that came off in about 2 days and the color became a darker purple.

Based on what I have read here on R2R I assume that is shedding.

xxkenny90xx · Jun 19, 2019

Ah I see. If it's changing color and dropping skin off I'd call it shedding lol. Looks like it's happy other than that, I wouldn't be too worried about it as long as your nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia check out. Have you tested those? It looks like your lights are plenty bright (toadstool don't need a ton of light) but what are you using?

Westside Guy · Jun 19, 2019

xxkenny90xx said:
Ah I see. If it's changing color and dropping skin off I'd call it shedding lol. Looks like it's happy other than that, I wouldn't be too worried about it as long as your nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia check out. Have you tested those? It looks like your lights are plenty bright (toadstool don't need a ton of light) but what are you using?

Yes, it is definitely dropping skin every 3-4 days. I have 2 Ai Hydra 26’s and I have it set to a lower power variant of David Saxby’s famous settings. My LFS says the water is testing perfect and I still want to know about how strong a flow it should have.

DJ H · Jun 19, 2019

They like high flow

DJ H · Jun 19, 2019

They like high flow

HawaiianReef · Jun 19, 2019

Westside Guy said:
Yes, it is definitely dropping skin every 3-4 days. I have 2 Ai Hydra 26’s and I have it set to a lower power variant of David Saxby’s famous settings. My LFS says the water is testing perfect and I still want to know about how strong a flow it should have.

I have about 8 devils hands like yours. There's 3 about 6 inches across that are close together. They came from a crashing tank and are now adjusting to this new one. New flow, nutrients, light, salt mix, etc. So they went through a phase of the mucous slime, just like yours in the 2nd pic. They are animals, so they react to the same conditions differently.
The slime coat is a defense for them when they get stressed. But it's ok. It's all natural for them as they settle into their new life. Once their acclimated, long term, they'll do this less.
I actually watch my large leathers to see how the tank is doing. They react fast to unstable conditions. At least for me they have.
So, the slime and/or color change is fine. It's when they go weeks or even months without any polyp extension that they are Really unhappy.
Beautiful piece by the way.