Toadstool leather coral has a new hole

[merlberg]

I havent added anything new to my tank and just did a w/c 2 days ago and now my coral has this huge hole. Not sure if this is ok nor not. Help please.
It is right next to another toadstool but has been there for months now. Should I move one. Any ideas as to what’s going on would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hendrix]

Spliiting into two, it looks healthy

 

[mort]

This is going back a while and don't have the time at the moment to research it but the old neurons seem to remember that toadstools with these kind of holes were often being eaten by a snail (think it's a predatory pyramid). They basically burrow down through the flesh and eat it from the inside out. So that would be the first thing I check.

 

[merlberg]

Spliiting into two, it looks healthy

I didn’t know these can split!

 

[merlberg]

This is going back a while and don't have the time at the moment to research it but the old neurons seem to remember that toadstools with these kind of holes were often being eaten by a snail (think it's a predatory pyramid). They basically burrow down through the flesh and eat it from the inside out. So that would be the first thing I check.

I read tht somewhere else and I used a syringe to see if there was anything inside but found nothing.

 

[Mark Bradley]

My toadstools split, move down the rock to allow ‘babies’ to form and just seem to do whatever the mood takes them too. I used to worry a lot but they have many interesting habits! I, early on, had one LFS tell me it was dying and needed to be cut out - luckily someone else mentioned the splitting so I left it and all went well. I understand you will quickly know if it were to die as I’m told they become ‘flakey’ - can’t say I’ve experienced this yet to confirm though.

 

[merlberg]

My toadstools split, move down the rock to allow ‘babies’ to form and just seem to do whatever the mood takes them too. I used to worry a lot but they have many interesting habits! I, early on, had one LFS tell me it was dying and needed to be cut out - luckily someone else mentioned the splitting so I left it and all went well. I understand you will quickly know if it were to die as I’m told they become ‘flakey’ - can’t say I’ve experienced this yet to confirm though.

So as long as it still looks like the above picture I should leave it alone and if it starts to look flakey should I automatically remove it from my tank or can I possibly save it by doing something?

 

[Mark Bradley]

Personally I think it looks very healthy so I would keep an eye on it - mine developed a hole on its stem (like a cigarette burn) which just grew and grew and eventually it just split. I was told if it becomes ‘flakey’ you should remove as quickly as possible but, as I say, I’ve no direct experience of this.

 

[merlberg]

Personally I think it looks very healthy so I would keep an eye on it - mine developed a hole on its stem (like a cigarette burn) which just grew and grew and eventually it just split. I was told if it becomes ‘flakey’ you should remove as quickly as possible but, as I say, I’ve no direct experience of this.

thanks for the info thus far... definitely appreciate it!

 

[Mark Bradley]

bad photo but you can see how this is splitting into two - it was one head a few days ago

 

[merlberg]

bad photo but you can see how this is splitting into two - it was one head a few days ago

Oh wow, so yours just recently split? How long have you had it?

 

[sfin52]

One of my devils hand is doing this and its splitting. Looks healthy. I would imagine if some thi g was eating on it the polyps should be shrunken down and look like it wasnt doing well.

 

[Mark Bradley]

Oh wow, so yours just recently split? How long have you had

I started out with two heads 3 months ago and clearly found a spot it likes in the tank

 

[Mark Bradley]

 

[merlberg]

Wow!!!! That's awesome

 

[reefjonny]

exciting times....I haven't experienced this yet. Anxious to see how this plays out.

 

[merlberg]

exciting times....I haven't experienced this yet. Anxious to see how this plays out.

I'd be excited too lol... I'm very curious to see how this looks a few months for now

 

[Uncle99]

These split in two ways.
1. As your seeing, a hole starts then gets progressively bigger.
2. They drop a piece of themselves, the size of a fingernail.