Care and Feeding of Leather Coral

[maddie]

I'm new to keeping invertebrates, with the exception of some mushrooms. On
the advice of my LFS, it was recommended that I try a small leather coral.
Anything in particular I should know about what to feed it etc.?

Thanks!

Maddie

[John Krempasky]

"maddie" > wrote in message
...
> I'm new to keeping invertebrates, with the exception of some mushrooms.
On
> the advice of my LFS, it was recommended that I try a small leather coral.
> Anything in particular I should know about what to feed it etc.?

Light, and it doesn't need all that much. You don't really specifically feed
them like a bubble coral, etc. either.

[maddie]

That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks John!
"John Krempasky" > wrote in message
...
>
> "maddie" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm new to keeping invertebrates, with the exception of some mushrooms.
> On
>> the advice of my LFS, it was recommended that I try a small leather
>> coral.
>> Anything in particular I should know about what to feed it etc.?
>
> Light, and it doesn't need all that much. You don't really specifically
> feed
> them like a bubble coral, etc. either.
>
>

[John Krempasky]

"maddie" > wrote in message
...
> That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks John!


They do eat in addition to photosynthesis but it's all microscopic stuff.
I've had one for 6+ years I've never specifically tried to feed with
anything.

Other thing is is not to panic if it turns gray, shrivels and doesn't open,
etc...even for fairly extended periods of time. There's often little rhyme
or reason to their behavior and you'll drive yourself nuts attempting to
analyze it. They usually expand during the day and shrivel at night.
However at times they can stay shriveled for several days, shed skin, look
like they're rotting away, and turn out to be fine in a day or two.

I just bought another leather (yellow tonga) a few months ago and was close
to tossing it. Appeared to have black necrotizing skin, wouldn't open, etc.
All of a sudden after 2-3 weeks it was perfectly fine, now expands every
day, etc.

[george]

"John Krempasky" > wrote in message
...
>
> "maddie" > wrote in message
> ...
>> That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks John!
>
>
> They do eat in addition to photosynthesis but it's all microscopic stuff.
> I've had one for 6+ years I've never specifically tried to feed with
> anything.
>
> Other thing is is not to panic if it turns gray, shrivels and doesn't open,
> etc...even for fairly extended periods of time. There's often little rhyme
> or reason to their behavior and you'll drive yourself nuts attempting to
> analyze it. They usually expand during the day and shrivel at night.
> However at times they can stay shriveled for several days, shed skin, look
> like they're rotting away, and turn out to be fine in a day or two.
>
> I just bought another leather (yellow tonga) a few months ago and was close
> to tossing it. Appeared to have black necrotizing skin, wouldn't open, etc.
> All of a sudden after 2-3 weeks it was perfectly fine, now expands every
> day, etc.
>

I've noticed the same behavior. You've answered my question as well. Thanks.

[maddie]

John, Thanks for the warning about the color change and shriveling.

I'll try not to freak out if I see that happening.

Maddie


"John Krempasky" > wrote in message
...
>
> "maddie" > wrote in message
> ...
>> That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks John!
>
>
> They do eat in addition to photosynthesis but it's all microscopic stuff.
> I've had one for 6+ years I've never specifically tried to feed with
> anything.
>
> Other thing is is not to panic if it turns gray, shrivels and doesn't
> open,
> etc...even for fairly extended periods of time. There's often little rhyme
> or reason to their behavior and you'll drive yourself nuts attempting to
> analyze it. They usually expand during the day and shrivel at night.
> However at times they can stay shriveled for several days, shed skin, look
> like they're rotting away, and turn out to be fine in a day or two.
>
> I just bought another leather (yellow tonga) a few months ago and was
> close
> to tossing it. Appeared to have black necrotizing skin, wouldn't open,
> etc.
> All of a sudden after 2-3 weeks it was perfectly fine, now expands every
> day, etc.
>
>