Leather looks sad

[fachatga]

My leather coral has always been the most healthy fastest growing that I have. Now for 3 days it looks sad and shriveled. Any ideas what’s wrong with it?

And this is what it used to look like

 

[NashobaTek]

Have you checked water parameters? Changed lighting, is there other tank inhabitants bothering it all of a sudden?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

If all parameters are in check (and rechecked), no recent changes to your system, it may just be wilting pre shed.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Leathers are good indicators of something going off in water chemistry. They are also big babies.

Have you moved anything in the tank or added anything? Cleaned the sides or done a water change? They can close up to shed, just make sure they have plenty of flow too.

 

[fachatga]

Parameters have been pretty steady.
nitrates 4
Phosphate .1
Temp 78.5
Ph 8.1

calcium is like 490. I don’t dose but it’s high. Maybe change in lighting. I tried to adjust the timing a little a week ago and messed up. Wasn’t much intensity for maybe a week. All other corals are acting the same. Nobody bothers it either. I did put in a new powerhead. Maybe change of water flow is bothering it.

 

[fachatga]

I’ve heard of leathers shedding. I’ve never seen it though. Maybe that’s what it is.

 

[fachatga]

I’ve had this one for like 4 months.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Probably shedding if you had it 4 months. They shed, then perk up and grow more. Should be fine. Give it a few days or weeks.

 

[fachatga]

Ok. Thanks. I I’ll give it some time.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Parameters have been pretty steady.
nitrates 4
Phosphate .1
Temp 78.5
Ph 8.1

calcium is like 490. I don’t dose but it’s high. Maybe change in lighting. I tried to adjust the timing a little a week ago and messed up. Wasn’t much intensity for maybe a week. All other corals are acting the same. Nobody bothers it either. I did put in a new powerhead. Maybe change of water flow is bothering it.

Ok so you've had changes to both flow and lighting in the last week.

With that info, I would not be worried about this guy. As was previously stated, leathers are big babies some times.

For example two weeks ago I had a baby anenome walk onto my torch island. I used a very small pump and hose to direct water right at the base of the nem to encourage it to release. I touched the leather with the hose exactly twice while getting it in the right spot. That girl curled up for 4 days and looked like it was dying. Day 5, Hello World, I'm back! Full on drama queen.

 

[fachatga]

Lol. I see. Thank you.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

Give it time. It looks like it getting ready to shed. Leathers are "drama queens" and react to the slightest change then go back to normal. Keep us posted!

 

[fachatga]

thanks. I’ll let you know when it gets back to normal.

 

[fachatga]

I did what research I could on leathers shedding after this and it does seem that is happening. It even got a glossy waxy coat over it. It seems like it’s about ending as it’s finally shedding the gunk that eventually covered it. And it’s starting to contract and move a little bit. You can see some shedding in the pic

 

[fachatga]

I know this thread is done and the issue is over. But I’ll post one last pic to show my Leather actually looking better than before. It stands up much stronger now. So thanks to all who helped me out. And for anybody who sees this thread searching for issues with their leather here is the final pic on how this ended.

 

[Sebastiancrab]

I know this thread is done and the issue is over. But I’ll post one last pic to show my Leather actually looking better than before. It stands up much stronger now. So thanks to all who helped me out. And for anybody who sees this thread searching for issues with their leather here is the final pic on how this ended.

Beautiful! Do you know the name of it if I want to shop for one?

 

[fachatga]

I think it’s nephthea. I was getting a few corals and fish from the place I got the tank from and he gave me a small piece of this for free. Only told me it was a finger leather coral. Grew so fast. It’s got some nice neon streaks throughout it when under the blue light.

 

[Paleozoic_reefer]

You'll be fragging that beauty in no time!!

 

[fachatga]

Yeah. Gonna be my first try at that. I’ll need to to keep it from taking over the tank at some point lol. I’ll post here when I do. I’ll probably give them away for now.

 

[lafarrow]

your last picture is the most beneficial. The follow up as to wht happened is usually missing so we re left to wonder if whatever remedy was "tried" worked. Thanks for the follow up.