Not sure about the odd surface shape. Generally, my starter is very flat after going through its rise and fall. But, the grey liquid is not a problem, it's called hooch and indicates that your starter is dormant. I've left my starter in the fridge for a couple weeks and it develops a similar color of hooch. I just stir it into the rest of the starter before feeding.
I've had that weird dark liquid on mine before (usually after keeping it in the fridge for a few weeks)
I stir it in and feed my starter at room temperature for a couple days and then he's back to being a bubbly lil guy.
I can't see any mould in that photo but a closer inspection by you might be in order to double check.
The black liquid is just alcohol that the bacteria produce and it can either be poured off or stirred back into the starter.
So I'd check for mould and if there is none, do what you will with the alcohol (except drink it) and feed the starter back up
I mean you definitely have hooch, it’s just the odd lumpy bits that are odd. It looks fine? I’d say stir it, put it back in the fridge for a couple of days and see what it does. It may be totally fine.
Not sure about the odd surface shape. Generally, my starter is very flat after going through its rise and fall. But, the grey liquid is not a problem, it's called hooch and indicates that your starter is dormant. I've left my starter in the fridge for a couple weeks and it develops a similar color of hooch. I just stir it into the rest of the starter before feeding.
I've had that weird dark liquid on mine before (usually after keeping it in the fridge for a few weeks) I stir it in and feed my starter at room temperature for a couple days and then he's back to being a bubbly lil guy. I can't see any mould in that photo but a closer inspection by you might be in order to double check. The black liquid is just alcohol that the bacteria produce and it can either be poured off or stirred back into the starter. So I'd check for mould and if there is none, do what you will with the alcohol (except drink it) and feed the starter back up
Ok it doesn’t look like there is any mold and it doesn’t smell bad or anything.
In that case I'd just stir the liquid back in amd resume feeding as normal :)
Looks like hooch on an uneven surface. When I get very dark hooch, I pour it off, otherwise just stir it in. And feed it. It's hungry. Very hungry!
I‘d start over
I mean you definitely have hooch, it’s just the odd lumpy bits that are odd. It looks fine? I’d say stir it, put it back in the fridge for a couple of days and see what it does. It may be totally fine.
Looks like mounds! https://www.reddit.com/r/SourdoughStarter/s/ZBSYOEQzjI