Toadstool Problem?

Has anyone ever seen this happen to a toadstool coral before? Is it on it's deathbed? It started slumping over about a month ago, and after it came back some of the polyps aren't extending. It has been in the same location since I placed it in my tank, and had thrived successfully for months prior to it starting to slump. The bald section of the toadstool is a pale yellow color. Any ideas?

 

It looks like the polyps in that area are just retracted. Something might be nipping it. I have one in my tank right now that is getting nipped on by a Christmas Wrasse. It looks like that a lot as of late.

 

Welcome to 3reef,

I would try and give it more flow. The flow might be inhibited by other corals blocking it or rocks, usually when the waxy film on top does not completely come off it's because of insufficient flow.

 

This is true. It does look like it has some film on it.

 

Mine looked worse than that about a month ago and I put a small koralia power head in the tank and directed it over the toadstool. It is almost completely recovered now.

 

Thanks

Wow. Thanks for all the quick replies. I love this site I wish I would have known about it when I set up my tank a year ago.

 

Leather corals (Sacrophyton sp.) sometimes shed a waxy film to rid their surfaces of attached algae or detritus. They may remain closed for a few days before shedding this film, but it is usually a normal process. Strong water flow can help slough off the film layer.