What’s wrong with toadstool?

[Seth fhy]

My toadstool has been closed for about 5 days now and the whitish part on the left edge seems to be spreading. What is this? Thanks!

 

[ScottR]

It seems to be bleaching. How long have you had it?

 

[Seth fhy]

It seems to be bleaching. How long have you had it?

6 months. Got it as a 1” frag and it’s now almost 5” fully extended, had been happy and healthy prior to this

 

[ScottR]

There could be a thousand reasons for this. But the whitening looks like it’s bleaching. Zooxanthellae die off basically. These corals prefer higher lighting. IME, I’ve had corals bleach due to water getting too hot. Do you have adequate lighting? Is the temp in the tank stable?

 

[Seth fhy]

There could be a thousand reasons for this. But the whitening looks like it’s bleaching. Zooxanthellae die off basically. These corals prefer higher lighting. IME, I’ve had corals bleach due to water getting too hot. Do you have adequate lighting? Is the temp in the tank stable?

Temp is pretty constant and always between 78-80. My lighting is sufficient. All of my other coral seem to be thriving. I do have a green bubble tip that, as it grows, has been increasingly shading the toadstool but I didn’t think this would cause bleaching. Could that be the issue?

 

[ScottR]

Temp is pretty constant and always between 78-80. My lighting is sufficient. All of my other coral seem to be thriving. I do have a green bubble tip that, as it grows, has been increasingly shading the toadstool but I didn’t think this would cause bleaching. Could that be the issue?

I highly doubt that would cause it. Someone else may be able to help you. Would help if you post your parameters. I’m sure that question will come up.

 

[ProfessorAronnax]

Has the nem come into contact with the leather at all?

 

[Seth fhy]

Came home pretty late last night and found this guy munching on the toadstool.. I think I found my issue

 

[rkpetersen]

Never trust a crab.

I was going to say that it doesn't look like bleaching to me, it looks like something's been stinging or biting the edge where it's dying, but you got there first.

 

[Dragonreef202]

You can see it's only affected on the outside like it had been bitten on. You have a invert that has a taste for LPS

 

[ScottR]

Came home pretty late last night and found this guy munching on the toadstool.. I think I found my issue

Looks like an emerald crab. They will occasionally eat soft corals if they have nothing else to eat. I have never had a good crab in my tank. One crab ate fish before I caught him. Another crab I had wiped out my entire colony of green star polyps. Both came in as hitchhikers.

 

[Katrina71]

I was gonna say...it looks like a crab has been eating it. Good news is, it should heal just fine.