Need Help Getting a Toadstool Out of Ceramic Pot

Sound2 · Feb 2, 2016

I'm new to reefing and this site. I recently purchased a 10 gal salt water tank that included corals, rock, a clown fish, a toadstool, etc. for a great price off craigslist. The only downside is the owner put his corals and toadstool in clay pots. I want to move the toadstool to my other tank, but have no idea how to get it out of the clay pot without causing it harm. I really don't want the clay pots in my new tank. Can someone please provide some guidance on how to do this? See the attached picture. Thanks in advance.

Lenny_S · Feb 2, 2016

They are tough little critters. Take it out of the tank and break the pot. Wherever it's attached just scrape it off or cut it with a razor blade. The easiest way to re-mount it is to rubber band 2 pieces of good sized dry rock rubble on either side of the stem, essentially sandwiching the stem between the 2 rocks. Don't use any glue or epoxy, that is useless with these corals. Let me know if this helps or if you have questions.

3dees · Feb 3, 2016

agree with above. just expect them to retract their polyps for an extended time. I did this to mine and it took a couple of weeks before it opened up again. just leave it alone once you cut it. they don't like to be moved.

Sound2 · Feb 6, 2016

Lenny_S said:
They are tough little critters. Take it out of the tank and break the pot. Wherever it's attached just scrape it off or cut it with a razor blade. The easiest way to re-mount it is to rubber band 2 pieces of good sized dry rock rubble on either side of the stem, essentially sandwiching the stem between the 2 rocks. Don't use any glue or epoxy, that is useless with these corals. Let me know if this helps or if you have questions.

Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate the guidance.

mr11 · Feb 11, 2016

I was just about to ask a similar question. I have a toadstool residing in a piece of PVC I would like to move. Is there a way to affix it to a piece of liverock at a 45 degree angle? I won't be able to use the "sandwhich" setup like mentioned earlier.

Lenny_S · Feb 11, 2016

mr11 said:
I was just about to ask a similar question. I have a toadstool residing in a piece of PVC I would like to move. Is there a way to affix it to a piece of liverock at a 45 degree angle? I won't be able to use the "sandwhich" setup like mentioned earlier.

The basic gist of it is it rakes a few weeks usually for them to attach their "stem" to a surface. Not sure how the spot you're thinking of looks so I don't have a specific suggestion. But if you can somehow get it to stay put it will eventually attach. The only catch is that the stem will attach to anything touching any part of it. It isn't the case that it only attaches from the bottom.