Toadstool leather looks more like a chia pet

[OttawaReefer]

I have a small toadstool leather that I picked up and it looks a lot like a chia pet!  The top of the toadstool is about 1.5 to 2 inches across and it's covered with extensions that are about .5 to 1 inch long with little white "fingers" at the end.

Just wondering if that's a sign for anything with this type of coral?  Since the day it was put into the tank it has been like that.  If it get's bothered by a hermit, or anything else, the extensions retract into the head, but then they come right back out. 

Most of the pictures I have seen of toadstool leather have some extensions but these ones seem crazy long.

[Vincenzo.]

no its healthy. And further more if u see the extentions and a small 'ball' on the end...if that ball opens up, it looks like a flower. This is rare though. If you get it fully opened, take a picture id love to see. Mine are half opened, but never fully opened yet.

[OttawaReefer]

not so much a flower as little white fingers. 

It just looks like a wiggly chia pet.  I'll try to get a picture this evening and post it. 

[beertech]

Polyp extension is a good thing.

[OttawaReefer]

It's not a great shot.  Didn't use the macro lens or a tripod

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[nelson]

It's been my experience that in circumstances where light is a little less that adequate, a leather will extend its polyps more than usual to capture more light.

Nelson

[Cheebs]

It looks nice and healthy to me. I also agree with Nelson.

[OttawaReefer]

So, you think that I should put it up higher in the tank?

[salvini55]

it looks healthy, what lighting do you have?

[OttawaReefer]

It's a 90G standard with a tec light (6 T5 fixture)

There's an open brain right beside it that seems to be doing fine.  It opens up huge under the lights!

[Vincenzo.]

its doing amazing actually.

[Cheebs]

Yeah it looks great, if anything keep it where it is, those polyps look sweet

[salvini55]

It's a 90G standard with a tec light (6 T5 fixture)

Gotta love the tek light 

[OttawaReefer]

The tek light is amazing!  I do have one issue with it, though.  I'm worried that the neighbours will start a campaign to get rid of that "grow op" on the corner.

You need shades to look at your own tank   

[EDIT]  I found a good article on toadstool leather extensions http://www.nano-reef.com/corals/?coral=26   According to the article that if it's not getting enough light or food then it will not extend it's polyps. [/EDIT]