Yellow Fiji Leather (Pictures added 12-3)

Been wanting a toadstool or leather for awhile now and a lfs got in the Yellow Fiji leather a couple months ago, I know they are one of the most difficult leathers but these are fragged from aquacultured colonies and has done very well at the lfs easily doubling its size over the last month or two. Best part is I got it for only $5 because I traded in a bunch of xenia stalks from my tank!

Will post pictures once its placed and opened in the reef. In the mean time any experiences and tips are welcomed!

 

Seems these guys take a long time before they open up and expand. I guess that's fairly normal hopefully it doesn't take weeks, kind of ugly looking without the polyps out. I guess pictures will have to wait

 

My one leather took almost 3 weeks to extend his polyps. He's purple with green polyps and looks awesome when there extended ... not so much when there not.

 

At worst case it should not take more than a week or there is an issue with placement.

The Figi IME likes it high, a lot of light to keep that yellow and mod to higher flow.

Congrats, a great coral.

 

+1 Absolutely loves light and flow.My Green Fiji is humungous!!! Try not to touch it as they do not like it.I had mine close up for a week when I accidentally brushed it with my hand. Keep an eye on it for any signs of tissue deterioration.It will take a while for it to expand.Good luck.Maybe when it gets big enough we could trade frags.Would love a yellow one.

 

Man thats a long time, hopefully it doesnt take that long!!

 

Everything I read did say it likes high light high flow more than other leathers. Im thinking under the dual bulb T5HO I will keep it in the top 1/3rd of the tank under the reflectors, it was under a 6 bulb at the lfs.

 

Im hoping it gets rather large, I hear it can happen quickly with the leathers. This is my first one and its in a mixed reef so I guess I will have to continue my carbon use. I did touch it when placing obviously, still havnt put it in its final spot didnt want to handle it too much so Im thinking I will do that in a few days. Its the same frag Ive been eyeing for months at the lfs and he handled it all the time and it seems to come out within a few hours, maybe because it comes from aquacultured stock??

As for fragging, I thought unlike most leather the elegans do not frag well and usually die off?

 

HMM was hoping to see some extention this morning but came downstairs to find the coral MISSING!!! Ended up being on the substrate, at least it landed right side up when it fell prob from an annoying hermit crab

 

death to all hermit crabs!!!!!!