Help Identify Hammer or Frogspawn????

[teenfishkeeper808]

Hi everyone, I just bought this guy a few days ago, it was sold to me as a frogspawn, but I’m thinking it’s a hammer, I’m new to lps so I’m not super sure which it is. I also have a new Duncan and I’m not super sure if it’s happy, it’s not super vibrant. Thanks in advance! Also, if anyone knows the variety it would be great to know! Sorry about the clownfish photobomb lol

 

[Zach B]

Looks like a hammer to me

 

[Zach B]

Could be a hybrid of some sort if I'm missing something...

 

[PicassoClown04]

1 is a pretty large hammer colony that’s not very happy. It’s called a common hammer as that is the most standard color pattern available
2 is a duncan that looks great

 

[Justin Cook]

Puffy hammer. I have a colony that look totally normal in my tank but ends up looking just like that in a friend's for some reason.

 

[teenfishkeeper808]

1 is a pretty large hammer colony that’s not very happy. 2 is a duncan

How do I make the hammer happy?

 

[PicassoClown04]

How new is it? Maybe just acclimating

 

[teenfishkeeper808]

How new is it? Maybe just acclimating

Like 2 days

 

[Sparkymarc]

First pic looks like a frogspawn, to me

 

[PicassoClown04]

Acclimating. Flow should be enough to make the tentacles away BOTH directions, not just to the left or right. It should be kind of a flutter motion. They don’t need an insane amount of light so if it seems to get worse, move it to lower light.

Like 2 days

 

[teenfishkeeper808]

Acclimating. Flow should be enough to make the tentacles away BOTH directions, not just to the left or right. It should be kind of a flutter motion. They don’t need an insane amount of light so if it seems to get worse, move it to lower light.

The only parts that are that puffy are the parts that are in bright like the other side is still small. Is the second pic what it’s suppose to look like?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Got the same one on the right side. Branching hammer with green stems and purple tips notice how long the stems are and how the tips are far from the skeleton and mouth areas

 

[teenfishkeeper808]

Gotcha! The lady I got it from had like 10 of them in her tank most were double the size of mine and they all looked like mine. I think hers were unhappy too then? She said that she’s had them all in there for 3+ years, so I have a feeling it’s going to be a long road to recovery lol

 

[PicassoClown04]

I think it also has something to do with the amount of nutrients and flow. I noticed that in a different tank of mine (so same water, food, dosing, etc) this same piece is less colorful and looked like yours for a long time. It’s expanding pretty well now but it’s been 5-6 months

Gotcha! The lady I got it from had like 10 of them in her tank most were double the size of mine and they all looked like mine. I think hers were unhappy too then? She said that she’s had them all in there for 3+ years, so I have a feeling it’s going to be a long road to recovery lol

 

[teenfishkeeper808]

I will up the flow then and start dosing!

 

[PicassoClown04]

I will up the flow then and start dosing!

Don’t over dose! Watch your numbers but more importantly, watch the hammer for its reaction. Only bad things happen fast in this hobby so take it slow!

 

[drewwCh]

Hi everyone, I just bought this guy a few days ago, it was sold to me as a frogspawn, but I’m thinking it’s a hammer, I’m new to lps so I’m not super sure which it is. I also have a new Duncan and I’m not super sure if it’s happy, it’s not super vibrant. Thanks in advance! Also, if anyone knows the variety it would be great to know! Sorry about the clownfish photobomb lol

as others have said, that first one is most likely a hammer with dot tips. if you watch tidal gardens videos on hammer coral care you will find that there are some hammers like that. the second one is a duncan. if i were you i would've started them on the bottom of the tank for a few days to a week then start to slowly move them to the rockwork because ypur hammer doesn't look too happy. maybe too much flow and light.