Hammer help.

[JBissell1289]

So I’ve had this gold hammer for probably 10 months and been happy. Bought it as a single head. But I’ve noticed over the past week or so that it’s loosing tentacles in one section and I can see a little skeleton by that section... other than that it opens up and seems healthy. The spot in question is the left side in the first two pics and top on the last one.

There’s nothing that I know of that has been bothering it. Any thoughts?

 

[rob s.]

anything that could be snacking on it at night? Crab, shrimp?

 

[JBissell1289]

anything that could be snacking on it at night? Crab, shrimp?

Emerald crab, scarlet, blue, and red legged hermits, pistol shrimp, sexy shrimp, and emerald crab. None of which are ever anywhere near the hammer. The newest edition is the emerald crab... but he’s always in the back corner of the tank and tons of coral that has been doing great between him and the hammer, including other hammers and lps corals.

 

[kartrsu]

I would look into dipping it with iodine to help preserve the coral. My euphyllia have lost tentacles, either through shipping, or stupidity on my end. The ones I let recover on their own wasted away due to bacterial infection. Iodine will help prevent that and help it recover faster.

On what’s causing it besides bacterial related tissue necrosis, it could be inverts picking at it. Doesn’t look like there are sharp structures close by that it would tear on.

 

[BrightReef]

I would definitely turn the lights on at night to see what's bothering it

 

[JBissell1289]

I would look into dipping it with iodine to help preserve the coral. My euphyllia have lost tentacles, either through shipping, or stupidity on my end. The ones I let recover on their own wasted away due to bacterial infection. Iodine will help prevent that and help it recover faster.

On what’s causing it besides bacterial related tissue necrosis, it could be inverts picking at it. Doesn’t look like there are sharp structures close by that it would tear on.

If it gets any worse, I think I will go the iodine route. But there doesn’t seem to be any infection around the questionable area. It makes me wonder if the head may be getting ready to split. It is huge. Fully open it’s 4”-5”.

I would definitely turn the lights on at night to see what's bothering it

That’s a great idea, I think I’ll try that tonight and see if I notice anything.

 

[kartrsu]

If it gets any worse, I think I will go the iodine route. But there doesn’t seem to be any infection around the questionable area. It makes me wonder if the head may be getting ready to split. It is huge. Fully open it’s 4”-5”.

If it’s fully open I wouldn’t worry too much. As a sanity check, you can gently tap the coral (I hate doing this) or wait until night to see how the tissue coverage is around the septa. If you got good coverage, no signs of recession or algae encroaching, and no inverts plucking it, then there shouldn’t be any stress issues.

If after your check, it looks all good, could very well be splitting time! Maybe direct some flow at the tentacles briefly to see if you can see two mouths. Keep us posted.

 

[JBissell1289]

If it’s fully open I wouldn’t worry too much. As a sanity check, you can gently tap the coral (I hate doing this) or wait until night to see how the tissue coverage is around the septa. If you got good coverage, no signs of recession or algae encroaching, and no inverts plucking it, then there shouldn’t be any stress issues.

If after your check, it looks all good, could very well be splitting time! Maybe direct some flow at the tentacles briefly to see if you can see two mouths. Keep us posted.

That’s what had me worried because there is some recession in that one section where it was loosing tentacles. No infection or algae issues. And yes, it opens up very well and seems nice and healthy which is why I was thinking a split.

 

[kartrsu]

That’s what had me worried because there is some recession in that one section where it was loosing tentacles. No infection or algae issues. And yes, it opens up very well and seems nice and healthy which is why I was thinking a split.

I’d check for two mouths. Could be splitting, but tissue recession is never a good sign at all. Either way, just monitor that area and see if it gets worse. If it does, probably iodine dip.

 

[JBissell1289]

I’d check for two mouths. Could be splitting, but tissue recession is never a good sign at all. Either way, just monitor that area and see if it gets worse. If it does, probably iodine dip.

Only one mouth.

 

[JBissell1289]

Got some pics last night and this morning. So slight recession and the tissue is scrunching towards the mouth.

 

[kartrsu]

Doesn’t look good man. Typically splitting behavior is in between two mouths, but this is moving towards the main mouth.

I hate tissue recession in euphyllia. It’s a clear sign of stress. That said, doesn’t mean you can’t save it without lots of babying and good care.

A couple more final suggestions. Check flow from left side to see if it’s getting too strong flow. Check if something is irritating it on skeleton near recession (vermitid snails, etc). Lastly, do a dip if you’re worried and place in low flow and light to let it recover.

Other than that, sometimes corals just waste for reasons we can’t figure out. As long as the others are hanging in there, just accept it’s a fluke. Good luck man!