[Chugalug]

I have a 90 gal that has been running about 3 months. Two weeks ago I added my first finger leather. He stayed closed about 2 days then puffed up and was beautiful .

Five days ago I guess I made the mistake of feeding him because since then he has been closed and shrunken. Other than that he looks pretty healthy. He isn't drooping--just not extended. Nothing else before then changed. Water params and placement/lighting was the same.

I did my regular partial water change 2 days later. After 3 days of this I thought maybe I should try something, so I added more lighting--I am only running 274 watts which I know is lowish. I had another strip of lights that I had inteded adding but everyone seemed happy without it before...so I turned it on. It didn't make him any happier, and seemed to tick off every other coral in the tank. I turned it back off today (everyone is much happier). I tried adding more water flow in his general direction with an oscilating powerhead. Nothing.

My question is this...is this normal for finger leathers? Are they just tempermental? Is he just digesting, and am I just messing with a good thing?

This morning he seems just about ready to open. His skin has that blackhead look it gets just before his polyps extend, but so far nothing. If this is normal then I can relax. I have looked all over in my books and on the web, and have found a few snatches of info that seem to suggest it is, but no straight answers.

Thanks!

Water params: Ammonia=0 Nitrate=0 Nitrite=0 pH=8.3 Alk=2.5meq/L sg=1.023 temp=79 Ca=350ppm

[Tonz of fun]

well he might be upset about something...IMO the leather does not not a direct flow. That maybe why it is closed. My leather would close at times for 2-3 days and was fine...

[Chugalug]

Well, he wasn't in a direct flow before. And for the first 3 days I did nothing except my usual water change, and making sure the params remained constant and good.

After 3 days though, I started to get worried.

That's when I added a little more flow. He still isn't in direct flow, but the oscilating range of the powerhead does swing more his way now. It sort of grazes him then swings away--I didn't want to make any huge changes since he was happy for more than a week.

[e_baer]

Leathers will do that every once in a while. They shed a layer of "skin". Similar to a snake, except the leather will usually turn a grayish color.

I am not saying thats definately what your leather is doing, but it might be.

[Chugalug]

Could be...

It is shedding now. I knew that they do this. I guess I just didn't realize that it takes so long. I hope that this is all it is.

It better not expect to get fed ever again if this is how it shows its gratitude