Leather came off its stem

[Renji]

I just came back from work and noticed my finger leather was being eaten by something. I say this because earlier the coral had no bite marks but notice some spots rip. I was moving the coral to a different spot and as I pick up the rock, the leather just pop off. I thought of nothing until I pick it up and noticed that the inside of the coral is hollow and the stem is on the rock. Can anyone help me I trying to save it.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Cut off pieces from the outer ends of the coral. They probably won't have a hollow center. The problem you have is not that uncommon. Search for how to attach your leather to a rock. It's a bit tricky.

 

[blecki]

Not necessarily from being eaten. These guys have a 'foot' of really fibrous material and what happens sometimes is that the top of the coral gets too heavy for it, so if you don't support the coral when you move it it will tear off the rock.

 

[kevgib67]

Take the fragged piece and place it in a container with rock rubble and set in the sand. In 1-2 weeks it will attach to a piece of rock rubble which you can glue to your rock structure.

 

[zoolan70]

The stem may very well grow back as well.

 

[mfinn]

Re-attaching green finger leathers can be tricky sometimes, especially when the center had rotted out.
First thing I would do is dip the stalk in a weak iodine solution ( I know where are you going to find that?)
I keep lugols and hand.
Then cut off as much of the hollow stalk off and dip again.
I don't think I would dip the entire piece, unless I saw any kind of rot up top ( black coloring on the fingers)
Then I would take 2 pieces of rubble ( this is where it gets fun) that you will rubber band together and still leave a hollow spot in-between the rocks, but not too big so the coral slips out of it, but tight enough to trap it without crushing the stalk.
Then place it on the sand in a area with light flow. Just enough to move the branches a little. Too much and the piece will wiggle out of the rocks.

Good luck.