Who's Eating My Toadstool?

[ThunderGoose]

I was looking at my tank this evening and discovered that what appears to be bites have been taken out of my toadstool. I need to know the culprit so I can remove them. The list of suspects is below, I have my suspicions but I wanted a more experienced opinion.

Goldline Blenny
Nean blue goby
Ocellaris Clownfish (Fancy Vivid)
Royal Gramma
Yellow Assessor
Yellow Watchman Goby
Whitespotted pygmy filefish
Blue-green chromis

Mespilia cf globulus (Red tuxedo anemone)
Pincushion urchin (probably)
Candy stripe pistol shrimp
Hitchhiker mantis shrimp (pro. wennerae)
Skunk cleaner shrimp
Misc. snails
Gold ring Cowrie
Black elephant snail
Serpent star
'Common' starfish
Blue leg hermits
Red leg hermits
Feather dusters (I think it's safe to say they're not the culprits)
Emerald crabs - several females and one large male

 

[uhgster1]

Looks like you're going to have to setup a night watch to catch the culprit. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was an emerald crab.

 

[James M]

I would make the emerald crabs a suspect

 

[vetteguy53081]

Typically, a hole in the cap of your Toadstool leather is the beginning of the coral's reproduction. As the hole grows larger and approaches the edge of the cap, a small piece of the coral will dangle from the mother colony and eventually drop.
It takes a month or so and the hole may get larger and you may likely see smaller holes that will eventually grow together and create little frags. As it progresses you'll start to see some little stalks grow on the bottom of the frags right before they separate and drift into the water current and become baby toadstools.

 

[ThunderGoose]

Typically, a hole in the cap of your Toadstool leather is the beginning of the coral's reproduction. As the hole grows larger and approaches the edge of the cap, a small piece of the coral will dangle from the mother colony and eventually drop.
It takes a month or so and the hole may get larger and you may likely see smaller holes that will eventually grow together and create little frags. As it progresses you'll start to see some little stalks grow on the bottom of the frags right before they separate and drift into the water current and become baby toadstools.

The damage is along the edge, not in the middle so it's probably not reproducing.

 

[mamgm2]

I got my money on the emeralds also, they always nipped at toadstools till ther moved to the fuge

 

[vetteguy53081]

The damage is along the edge, not in the middle so it's probably not reproducing.

Mine is shedding the the edge right now and NO crabs in tank. Does not have to be center. Devil hands also on the outer edge

 

[Fishguru]

my toadstool looked similar as it reproduced. found little toads in other parts of the tank

 

[ThunderGoose]

Hmmmm.... sounds like it's either the emeralds or the toadstool is reproducing. Very different causes. I'll keep an eye on things and hope for the best.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hmmmm.... sounds like it's either the emeralds or the toadstool is reproducing. Very different causes. I'll keep an eye on things and hope for the best.

Every indication of reproduction. Mine looks like someone took a scissors to it

 

[PDR]

+1 for reproduction. Mine does the same thing and I have never seen anything bother them.

 

[ThunderGoose]

I was kind of excited to think my toadstool was reproducing. BUT this evening I spotted my male emerald crab snacking on the toadstool. So I stuck my hand in and pulled him out (fortunately he doesn't have a strong pinch).

He now lives in the sump with Dexter, the murderous hermit crab.

 

[PeterEde]

Every indication of reproduction. Mine looks like someone took a scissors to it

Does this look like it's eaten or multiplying?
It has not really opened since going into the tank

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like an ugly shedding which I’ve had

 

[PeterEde]

Looks like an ugly shedding which I’ve had
Nothing worry about?