HELP WITH CORAL FRAGGING

[PeterB113]

I have a hammer in my tank that i bought with 2 heads but only one was alive, the other was just a skeleton. My question is do you think i can frag it with coral shears in the tank? Its glued to the rock and wont come off and i want to remove the dead head and replace the healthy head and move it away from my frogspawn because i think its making it recede.please let me know what you guys think. Thank you

 

[bday1335]

Those skeletons are pretty fragile, would have to be a saw that cuts the 2 apart, if you tried with bone cutters or shears, it will just shatter and damage the other head. Good luck !

 

[PeterB113]

Those skeletons are pretty fragile, would have to be a saw that cuts the 2 apart, if you tried with bone cutters or shears, it will just shatter and damage the other head. Good luck !

Would you suggest just leaving it as is?

 

[bday1335]

Would you suggest just leaving it as is?

Won't hurt anything!

 

[KrisReef]

If the frogspawn is fighting with the hammer and you leave it where they can fight then wouldn't you expect that the hammer is going to finish dying from frogspawn warfare?

As was mentioned, the skeleton tends to shatter if you try to cut it with a bone cutter. These can be cut with bandsaws, hacksaws, and even bone cutters but bone cutters is risky.

Some hardware stores have wire saws for cutting PVC pipe that you might be able to use in place if you have too? I'd bust it loose and hope for the best if the frogspawn is going to kill it anyway? The living polyp is mostly up at the terminal (living) end and there is probably an inch or more of dead skeleton at the bottom where this was glued into place. You could probably insert a screwdriver or kitchen knife in between the live rock and the dead skeleton and crack it loose without any issue. I guess it really depends on how careful or skilled you are with bone surgery?

If you do decide to work on this, make sure you keep any force you use aimed towards the dead end and avoid handling or bumping the living flesh.

, not like this guy.

 

[mdb_talon]

not like this guy

Aww i like his technique. An iodine dip and some superglue he will have new human in no time

 

[PeterB113]

Ok im going to try and get it loose at the base where the dead skeleton is. Thanks for your help

 

[KrisReef]

I trust it will go well. Let us know either way.

 

[Zoa_Fanatic]

I would just leave it. Move the whole thing if you have to move it

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

I would say remove it, even if it’s difficult I have to wiggle mine sometimes, then once it’s off get a dremel and a diamond circular saw and it cuts like butter. Very easy, relatively inexpensive. Pretty safe also. Shears, and I’m speaking from experience, as mentioned can shatter the skeleton. I’ve done it trying to break frags off frag plugs. Definitely a spinning saw IMO is the best.

 

[PeterB113]

I didnt remove it yet i tried wiggling it but its really glued in there because i have an urchin that likes to walk around with coral hats.i ordered a metal pick to try and loosen the base. Ill post an update when its here.

ALSO**** Just found my cleaner shrimp dead on top of my euphyllia garden this morning. All tank parameters are good and its a young small cleaner shrimp. Do you guys think it got stung to death? It just molted yesterday and today its dead. Lmk what you guys think

 

[KrisReef]

I’m not sure what the cleaner shrimp issue represents in this instance.

 

[PeterB113]

I’m not sure what the cleaner shrimp issue represents in this instance.

Nothing to do with the hammer issue, just a seperate question.

 

[PBnJOnWheat]

I didnt remove it yet i tried wiggling it but its really glued in there because i have an urchin that likes to walk around with coral hats.i ordered a metal pick to try and loosen the base. Ill post an update when its here.

ALSO**** Just found my cleaner shrimp dead on top of my euphyllia garden this morning. All tank parameters are good and its a young small cleaner shrimp. Do you guys think it got stung to death? It just molted yesterday and today its dead. Lmk what you guys think

It may have starved if it wasn’t eating! Could fest on corals too just a side note. Anyhow, I’d definitely see if u can get it out, goodluck!!

 

[zalick]

Grab tightly at the base and snap it off. No problem. Just be careful not to damage the tissue with your hand. I've done this countless times on hammers.

Good luck!