Hammer Question

[lsaint88]

Is it normal for a hammer to not really open up. I have had my hammer for over a year and got it when it had one head now it has 6 and all 6 haven't really open up today. the only thing that I have added is a GBTA and its not by it and never has been. The BTA has not even moved from where I put is when I first got it it must like that spot. The only thing that is by the hammer is my frog spawn but they have been by each other form day one when I got them.

 

[ritter6788]

Flow can affect it. Higher flow can cause it to shrink up.

 

[lsaint88]

Flow has been the same from when i first got him.

 

[reeftank21]

Carefully watch for a bacteria around the head of the hammer. If you see a brown slime then dip but it could just snap out of it after a day or so. Should not be a problem next to the frogspawn, I have the same with no issue at all.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Occasionally, my torch and frogspawn get grumpy and don't open. Like the above poster said watch out for brown jelly. Brown jelly can spread quick and affect other LPS.

 

[lsaint88]

no slime its just looks like if the lights where off

 

[Pkunk35]

From my experience hammer and euphyllia normally should be expanded but at times can be "shriveled" or seem more deflated than normal due to various reasons.

Are all the heads exhibiting shriveled or not completely expanded polyps, or are all the heads completely withdrawn as they are at night? Any tissue recession at all, in particular near the bases of the heads? They should be white and fleshy normally.

I'd wait a bit and observe the coral closely for the next few days. If worsens, then a dip as reeftank21 suggested may help but you may want to check your water parameters as you observe and before you dip.

 

[Pkunk35]

no slime its just looks like if the lights where off

IMO I would say that is not normal. Even when not looking well my hammer will expand polyps, and it has been sick often in my tank. I can't say i've ever seen it completely withdrawn during the day time (it is a wall hammer tho, so not exactly same).

I would test your water parameters, also if it were me i would run some carbon or water change as a precaution.

 

[lsaint88]

I will check my parameters. oh one more thing to add in the past 2 weeks it seems like it has been branching out hard core. for about a year it has been for the most part one piece now all 6 heads have there own stock and they are all about to a point where i can frag

 

[Pkunk35]

I will check my parameters. oh one more thing to add in the past 2 weeks it seems like it has been branching out hard core. for about a year it has been for the most part one piece now all 6 heads have there own stock and they are all about to a point where i can frag

I wonder then if it is just growing...

 

[thewackyreefer]

From what I've noticed there are a lot of LPS that will just close up for a day or so and bounce right back. No idea why, just an observation.

 

[lsaint88]

everything is good S.G. 1.026 ph 8.4 ammonia 0 no2 0 no3 0 Ca2 400 kh 161.1 and phosphate is at 0