Leather Coral Yellow (Sarcophyton sp.)

[Ltspd]

I just purchased a nice large Yellow leather yesterday. Now that it is in the tank it seems to want to slump over at the base. I have tried moving it around some to help it stay upright, but with no avail. Should I try and prop it up? Or will it straighten itself out?

Also, what are the requirements for this coral?

[popcorn]

It's a very nice coral, and will get pretty big. I am actually about to try fragging ours... if I can get the nerve. It's become a showpiece. As far as lighting and flow, ours has done really well with high lighting (at the top with 2x250W MH and moderate flow. When we first got it, it was the most tempermental thing! The slumping at the base is normal - it probably a weird greenish/gray color too. It will perk up in time. (Meaning, it's totally normal.) Ours is almost always out now, but wasn't in the beginning. This only things I would watch out for is since it is really top-heavy when it's slumped over, it has a greater chance of coming loose. Ours fell off once, and it took forever to get it reattached. The other thing to watch out for is to make sure it has adequate flow to prevent any tissue necrosis. We had a little appear once, but it can be cut off.

It's a beautiful coral - a nice addition, and will grow pretty quickly, too. Enjoy it!

[David]

My experiences would parrallell popcorns, beautiful coral that can be "moody". Have had mine about seven months and on occasion it closes up and looks terrible but always comes back and overall has grown considerably and is definately "showpiece' material. I keep mine mid level on the reef directly under a 250w lamp in strong flow.

[bongobrian]

I had the same problem a while back. After I placed the leather in strong current, it propped up after a couple of days.

[addicted2fish]

They are nice corals. Is is the one that has the typical toadstool shape, or the one with the big, wavy, frilly edges? I have the toadstool type, it's about 6 inches across and is splitting. I don't think that variety gets as big as the other.

Mine took a few days of adjustment before it opened fully, I wouldn't worry about it for a while. Just don't let the base touch anything you don't want it attached to.

[David]

Since we are discussing sarcophyton elegans, anyone dared cut one? I would love to propagate this beauty but I am scared silly to try it. I have taken cuttings from other sarco's but this one just seems so, well..., perfect. I just hate the thought of screwing it up.

[popcorn]

I know what you mean - it is so nicely proportioned that it is a lot harder to cover up if you remove a piece. I tried it once, removing 2 small frags. I mounted them with the toothpick/rubberband method (with a bit of superglue, because I always use it). The strangest thing happened - the next morning, they were gone. And I mean gone. The toothpicks and rubberbands were still there and attached, but no coral. Since I doubt it would have wasted that fast, I'm guessing that *someone* had a little snack. (Not that I'd ever seen coral munching occur before.) Weirdness. Since it grew back, and even assumed its normal roundish, wavy shape, I think I am going to try it again. If I can get up the nerve, that is. I agree - it is so perfect - I hate to think about deforming it too much! (I'm trying to justify it because the edges are starting to fold over on each other. Wouldn't want any more little necrotic spots... )

Maybe it'll just split on its own...

[David]

Sorry pop, it ain't gonna split. I keep searching the base for daughters- NOT. We gotta cut 'em! I know it, you know it. Damn. I just want to hear from someone who's done it so I feel better about it, ya know?

[JustPhish]

The elegans leathers are extremely picky. I did however finally take an exacto to one and it worked out fine. Cut maybe a 2-3 inch piece and secured to a rock using a very loose rubberband until it attached.

HTH

[popcorn]

Well, I did it. We have 3 babies now. They're all still a little grumpy, but only 5 hours later, some polyps are extending. I went ahead and sewed (in addition to superglued) them on rocks so they can't walk off. Lord only knows what the mother colony will look like after this...

Oh well. So far, so good.