Toadstool Leather getting a spot

Gman1978 · #1 08/12/2007, 08:18 PM

I have had a toadstool for about 6 months and it is doing fantastic. It has almost tripled in size since coming home and I have had to actually rearrange the tank to accomidate it.

Now, we are having a little concern. The coral is opening and closing as it shoudl but there is a undefined suble whitening of the coral. Its as if the coral has started to lose its pigmentation? I cant figure it out, I dont know what it is and I hoping that everything is OK. The polyps are still extending and waving about as usual, its just the discoloration thats causing concern.

Is this normal? Any ideas RC folks?

Sincerely,

Concerned Toadstool parents.

kiknchikn · #2 08/13/2007, 06:44 PM

Hmmm... sounds like it isn't stressed per say, since it is opening and closing normally. What kind of light do you have it under and at what depth?

It could be that the coral is receiving TOO MUCH light and is getting rid of xooxanthellae, since it doesn't need as many. If that's the case, you could try lowering it in your tank or giving it a little shade. My sarco is almost completely out of the light and it still grows like a weed.

You may have better luck trying the soft coral forum, since the sarcophyton isn't a corallimorph as far as I know, even though it has "toadstool" in its common name.