Hammer coral shrunk

[Qasim]

Hello,

I have this issue with one of the heads if my hammer coral. A while ago I lost one splitting head to the brown jelly disease now another head to the opposite has shrunk and wouldnt upen up. Its not doing well. I have slightly high phosphate 0.1 and nitrate is between 5-10 the tank is new almost 4 months old or little less. All of my corals are doing well apart from this head of my pink hammer.

Below is a closer shot to the problematic head and the others show a general view of the tank.

 

[Dom]

I wouldn't worry about it. Just monitor to see if other heads start to close.

 

[Qasim]

It has been like this for a week now and all it gets out is as much as the picture below.

 

[Dom]

It has been like this for a week now and all it gets out is as much as the picture below.

Again... I wouldn't worry about it right now. It will probably self correct. Now, if ALL the heads were looking like that, I'd be concerned.

 

[Qasim]

Thank will ask for help if it persists or another head turns like that.

 

[P-Dub]

Take some photos of the base of the colony. Sometimes, boring sponges are the culprit. Often you will see the smallest dot of orange or yellow on the base. If all clear, then just continue to monitor.
Orange things in holes/tunnels on hammer stem

 

[Qasim]

Take some photos of the base of the colony. Sometimes, boring sponges are the culprit. Often you will see the smallest dot of orange or yellow on the base. If all clear, then just continue to monitor.
Orange things in holes/tunnels on hammer stem

Here are few shots

 

[xenttt]

Looks like it's infested with a lot vermetid snails. Their nets can definitely irritate the coral and keep them closed if the flow blowing them towards that one head.

 

[P-Dub]

Xenttt has a point. It certainly wouldn't hurt removing the snails, not that easy btw. Other than that, I cant see anything from that one perspective that would lead me to believe there are boring sponges in the skeleton. Keep a watchful eye on it, remove the snails, and keep us posted.

 

[Qasim]

I have tried to remove vermedit as much as I can and flushed them, i took out my frogspawn as well it had too mucg as well hope in a week I will see the effect

 

[Semper.Reefing]

Looks like it's infested with a lot vermetid snails. Their nets can definitely irritate the coral and keep them closed if the flow blowing them towards that one head.

Will a dip in coral Rx kill vermatid snails? I believe they are the reason my hammer hasn’t opened up like normal for the past few weeks.

 

[P-Dub]

Will a dip in coral Rx kill vermatid snails? I believe they are the reason my hammer hasn’t opened up like normal for the past few weeks.

It will not. Coral Rx is designed for parasites and bacterial infections. Manual scraping of the snails will be needed.

 

[neoender25]

If you can break off the necks of the snails, but can't get the rest off, a drop of super glue on the opening has prevented mine from regrowing.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

It will not. Coral Rx is designed for parasites and bacterial infections. Manual scraping of the snails will be needed.

Sounds good. I appreciate the quick response. This was my first coral and it used to extend so much. I hope this will resolve my problem!

 

[P-Dub]

Sounds good. I appreciate the quick response. This was my first coral and it used to extend so much. I hope this will resolve my problem!

Should. Just be aware if you have them on the coral you likely have them in your tank and they can repopulate your euphyllia... They are persistent and prolific little buggers.