How to shorten really tall leathers

[Sharir]

Hey guys, recently I have been flattering myself looking at softies. To be completely honest they are really attractive coral especially when they are
Swaying in the flow. The issue I seem to discover is that the stalks of the toadstool leathers tend to get huge if you keep a specimen in a nano reef tank for a long time.

When the toadstool leathers are small this tends not to be such a big problem... However as time goes on these stalks can grow really thick
If you trimm the edges of your leather to maintain the "zen" in your tank the stalks look like a giant "elephant's trunk".

If anyone has a solution for this problem please don't hesitate to post below. Put pics if possible too. (NB:when I say solution I am saying to solve this problem without having to replace the leather;I am emotionally attached to my coral ;Hilarious;Wacky

 

[JumboShrimp]

Recommendation: I just searched on R2R, “How to frag a toadstool” and read some interesting things.

Best wishes!

 

[fishguy242]

...Time for a bigger tank?

 

[reefsean03]

You could frag a piece of the top part of the toadstool to the size you want and it can regrow the stalk part again

 

[Kellie in CA]

I have a long polyp toadstool in a nano. About once a year it gets all tall and starts growing weird. So..... I chop it off about an inch from the base. Within weeks new polyps form and it’s back to looking like a toadstool in about 4-6 weeks.

 

[Sharir]

I have a long polyp toadstool in a nano. About once a year it gets all tall and starts growing weird. So..... I chop it off about an inch from the base. Within weeks new polyps form and it’s back to looking like a toadstool in about 4-6 weeks.

Hey @Kellie in CA I am interested in your approach to this problem... Do you have any pictures or a video on how to do this.it is a very smart way to keep your leather short. Thanks

 

[DanConnor]

Just snip it off with sharp scissors. If it's too big for that, use a long straight razor blade

 

[Sharir]

How will I be able to remove the stalk from the rock it is stuck on?

 

[DanConnor]

You don't- it regrows from the base.

 

[Sharir]

Does anyone have any videos or pics on this topic.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I know someone that has a reallllly tall and beautiful leather. I think he has cut it down some before; he may be able to offer some advice. @Flippers4pups ?!

 

[New&no clue]

I think what @DanConnor is saying, and please correct me if I am wrong, is you cut the head off the toadstool and leave the stump. If you have a pair of tongs you can hold onto the head and use a pair of scissors cut the stalk. Pull the head out a new head will grow in its place. You can determine how short you want to new stock to be based on where you cut it.

 

[DanConnor]

Yes, I do it all the time. You can frag up the top also, if you want

 

[AmaleeC]

I think what @DanConnor is saying, and please correct me if I am wrong, is you cut the head off the toadstool and leave the stump. If you have a pair of tongs you can hold onto the head and use a pair of scissors cut the stalk. Pull the head out a new head will grow in its place. You can determine how short you want to new stock to be based on where you cut it.

OP is looking for suggestions on how to keep the stump thin

 

[New&no clue]

OP is looking for suggestions on how to keep the stump thin

I wasn't trying to answer the OP's question, I was trying to give a visual description of another posters thoughts.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I've fragged leathers before. They can grow from small pieces of frags to very large specimens if given the right conditions. That said, the smallest amount of tissue left behind on a rock can do this.

When fragging, use of a sharp blade cleaned of oil or detergent is used. Cut areas will "skin" over quickly, but must be watched for infection. Use of a dip such as Lugol's solution is advised for loose frags. Any dark grey or black leading to tissue "melting" is a indication of infection.

Frags can be mounted on to frag plugs with super glue gel. Mounting on to rock can be done similarly, but may not stick. Frags can be held in place with toothpicks, rubber bands, netting.... anything to encourage attachment. Once attached, frags will take several months to show growth of "tentacles"/polyps forming a head.

Fragging a leather in tank, it is highly advisable to run GAC (granular activated carbon) as leathers will excrete a defense chemical that may irritate other corals. This will not harm fish or inverts.

Once again, any tissue left behind will most likely start another leather.

Mine are out of control. The sister to the left was a small amount of tissue left behind from before. I will be fragging these soon.

Hope this helps. Fins up!

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I've fragged leathers before. They can grow from small pieces of frags to very large specimens if given the right conditions. That said, the smallest amount of tissue left behind on a rock can do this.

When fragging, use of a sharp blade cleaned of oil or detergent is used. Cut areas will "skin" over quickly, but must be watched for infection. Use of a dip such as Lugol's solution is advised for loose frags. Any dark grey or black leading to tissue "melting" is a indication of infection.

Frags can be mounted on to frag plugs with super glue gel. Mounting on to rock can be done similarly, but may not stick. Frags can be held in place with toothpicks, rubber bands, netting.... anything to encourage attachment. Once attached, frags will take several months to show growth of "tentacles"/polyps forming a head.

Fragging a leather in tank, it is highly advisable to run GAC (granular activated carbon) as leathers will excrete a defense chemical that may irritate other corals. This will not harm fish or inverts.

Once again, any tissue left behind will most likely start another leather.

Mine are out of control. The sister to the left was a small amount of tissue left behind from before. I will be fragging these soon.

Hope this helps. Fins up!

Found this thread looking for info on toadstools, but WOW! Nice candycane colony!

 

[Jekyl]

I feel your pain