ID on this Coral Hitchhiker?

GucciYoni · Feb 20, 2018

New to corals.. Looks like a leather to me? Any definites ?

dbraun15 · Feb 20, 2018

Looks like a toadstool leather.

cincyreef · Feb 20, 2018

Looks like a toadstool leather to me.

GucciYoni · Feb 20, 2018

How can I get it to grow cause its so small?

dbraun15 · Feb 20, 2018

Good water conditions and light. They are photosynthetic, so no need to feed.

GucciYoni · Feb 20, 2018

Anyone know their average growth rate and size range ?

GucciYoni · Feb 20, 2018

Does it look healthy?

Supurderek · Feb 20, 2018

Looks fine. Give it some time to adjust. They are a very forgiving coral. Nice find

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Oldsalt01 · Feb 21, 2018

Mine went from the size of my thumb (about 1")and 3" high, to about 7" in diameter and almost tripled it's height in one year. It is now too big for my 14g. It's in moderate flow, attached to a piece of rubble and sitting on the sand at the front of the tank, but it never really seemed to care where I put it, concerning flow or light levels. I'm gonna swap it for a Kenya Tree or Nepthea one of these days.

Oldsalt01 · Feb 21, 2018

A LFS near me has one of the same species as yours in a 75g display tank that is well over a foot in diameter. They can act a little grumpy when they shed, and not extend their tentacles for days at a time. It's a little disconcerting the first time you see it, because it looks serious, but it's not. I believe they shed mucous while they are in a growth spurt and that's why the tentacles aren't extending. Of course, they may just be being Toadstools. Make sure you run carbon, as they do give off some somewhat noxious stuff, especially when shedding, that can negatively effect other corals.

DSC reef · Feb 21, 2018

Toadstool leather, good lighting and good flow will keep it happy. Can't comment on growth rate, every tank is different.

GucciYoni · Feb 24, 2018

Oldsalt01 said:
A LFS near me has one of the same species as yours in a 75g display tank that is well over a foot in diameter. They can act a little grumpy when they shed, and not extend their tentacles for days at a time. It's a little disconcerting the first time you see it, because it looks serious, but it's not. I believe they shed mucous while they are in a growth spurt and that's why the tentacles aren't extending. Of course, they may just be being Toadstools. Make sure you run carbon, as they do give off some somewhat noxious stuff, especially when shedding, that can negatively effect other corals.

Thanks heaps! I have been seeing that grotty mucus! I should go and replace m,y recently abandoned carbon cartridges

Oldsalt01 · Feb 24, 2018

The shedding will settle down once the Toady gets comfortable in it's new digs. They're odd, but tough little buggers. I have abused mine to no end, moving it, changing light settings, missing a water change (etc), and it just keeps smilin at me. I even dremel'd it off most of it's original rock and that didn't seem to phase it at all. Blowing the mucous off with a turkey baster can help, and if your pumps are off you can suck the mucous out to limit the gunk going into your filtration.

GucciYoni · Mar 2, 2018

Good news. I picked up my first few corals. A hairy mushroom with lots of potential! a Small bubble and a rose coloured torch and theyre all doing great along with the toadstool! I think i need to frag some Zoas now!