What causes different Toadstool shape?

[Reeficheep]

Possibly a dumb question, but after a couldn't find anything after a quick search. What causes different shapes on toadstool corals (flat vs ruffled)?

I have a few guesses...
1. Age/size
2. Type
3. Flow?
4. Lighting?
5. Pot luck (I think this is the least likely option...)

Just curious, as I love the look of the ones with massively curved edges rather than flat plates.

VS

 

[BryanM]

Nature?

mine both change from flat to fluffy whenever they want to.

 

[reeftivo]

mine stay fluffy i think mainly due to the current they are in. they get strong flow and lots of light. When i first got them they were a little flat and there was only one on a small rock. i butted up another rock against it and it grew into several then thickened (fluffed) up. it's a nice island now but is getting a little big for my 75. I had another large stalk behind the two big ones but it was getting choked off from the light and hammered with flow so it narrowed and started bending and stretching down and out along the sand to find light (and less flow i assume). you can see it along the sand behind my dwindling zoas.

 

[Reeficheep]

WOW that's a nice looking toad! What type is it?

So, affected by flow, and just coral mood? Maybe it changes from fluffy to flat when it's shedding?

 

[reeftivo]

WOW that's a nice looking toad! What type is it?

So, affected by flow, and just coral mood? Maybe it changes from fluffy to flat when it's shedding?

Thanks. It was sold to me as a dish top toadstool but as it grew and split it changed a little. It doesn't extend polyps like it did when it was little, but i still like it. It's just getting big. There are 5 more small splits growing around that small island so I need to frag some and give back to lfs for some credit. My lfs is cool that way. I've never witnessed mine shedding. Only growing bigger and bigger, yikes!

 

[Timfish]

Well, to clarify your "Age/size" variable, from what I've seen they can sense obsticles and other corals around them. It seems if they are feeling crowded they will grow asymetrically or even pinch off frags. And obviously these processes will vary by species.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Mine is probably about 3-4 inches. It started off flat, but I can see it's forming an indent in the center and some of those "ruffling" edges.

 

[reeftivo]

Well, to clarify your "Age/size" variable, from what I've seen they can sense obsticles and other corals around them. It seems if they are feeling crowded they will grow asymetrically or even pinch off frags. And obviously these processes will vary by species.

thanks for the info. makes sense! i bought mine on a small rock with a single stalk splitting at the top into two heads. I had it in front of my rock work on the sand and it kept getting blown over. I found a small AF arch piece in my garage that i didn't care for because it looked like a horseshoe, but i realized the small rock would sit perfect inside the arch if i layed the arch down. that allowed stability and more room for growth. since putting it in the back left corner it has taken off. it is cramped now back there and the big head is starting to grow over some prime area for more sps frags on the center grotto. I need a bigger tank LOL!!!

 

[Reeficheep]

Thanks for the responses! So, really affected by a lot of things, but it looks like only controllable one is placement. As far as I can tell, if they're crowded or near other corals/objects, they're more likely to ruffle? Just curious, as I'm considering buying one in the future and was wondering if I could influence growth shape.

I've never witnessed mine shedding. Only growing bigger and bigger, yikes!

Weird- I thought all toads shed on a fairly regular basis, like once every few months. Bigger is always better, but how large would you say yours is? If it's in a 75 gallon and takes up that much room, the cap's got to be at least the size of my hand...

 

[reeftivo]

Thanks for the responses! So, really affected by a lot of things, but it looks like only controllable one is placement. As far as I can tell, if they're crowded or near other corals/objects, they're more likely to ruffle? Just curious, as I'm considering buying one in the future and was wondering if I could influence growth shape.

Weird- I thought all toads shed on a fairly regular basis, like once every few months. Bigger is always better, but how large would you say yours is? If it's in a 75 gallon and takes up that much room, the cap's got to be at least the size of my hand...

if mine have shed it only must be at night when i'm not in the room. the polyps will retract and they will tighten up during ramp down to lights off, but i've never seen any shedding and I've had them just over a year. the one to the left has a 6 inch head and the larger one next to it is around 8 inches. Since i have switched my center light to the Orphek natura icon they aren't stretching as high but are getting wider soaking up the light.

 

[Timfish]

@reeftivo to frag taodstools when they get too large it's easy to just go around the edge and cut off a strip then cut the strip into smaller pieces. Set the frags in sand in a spot where they won't get pushed around until they attach to some sand then you can glue them to rocks or frag plugs.

 

[reeftivo]

@reeftivo to frag taodstools when they get too large it's easy to just go around the edge and cut off a strip then cut the strip into smaller pieces. Set the frags in sand in a spot where they won't get pushed around until they attach to some sand then you can glue them to rocks or frag plugs.

thank so much for the info!