Yellow Tang eating my Hammer!

[CookieRdReef]

I saw my Yellow Tang nip at my hammer coral a few days ago. The hammer has since deteriorated and looks on its way out if not dead already. Today I see my yellow tang deciding to go nuts and eat the rest of what is left of the hammer. I have 3 Euphyllia including 2 other Hammers in the tank. Should I remove the Tang? Was it only nipping before because it was possibly dying?

 

[WIReefer]

Are you feeding him enough? Try algae clips.

 

[Fred2482]

Although uncommon I have heard of this, some state their may have been algae growing on the corals, others they are not eating enough other food. Maybe get some macro algae like OGO to see if it distracts him form the hammer?

 

[CookieRdReef]

I have been trying to feed generally light. I put up algae clips 2-3x per week and put up a new one when I saw him nip at the hammer. I guess I will put it out more regularly.

 

[CookieRdReef]

I have been feeding daily and he takes frozen and pellets. I'm afraid he will nip more corals. I would love to keep him if this was an isolated incident :/

 

[Uncle99]

Anything is possible in the glass box.
However, this fish is an algae picker/eater, but, if hungry may try anything.
Mine have never touched a coral but regularly picks algae off the base and skeleton.

 

[MERKEY]

The hammer looks like its not doing so well...tang is most likely cleaning algea from the skeleton.

Amybswings in your parameters?

Whats your po4 and no3

 

[CookieRdReef]

Po4 and No3 were higher than normal bc my skimmer was offline for a while. Working on bringing those down. Hammer looked very normal before the day I saw him nip. Then the next day the hammer was more retracted on the side he nipped. I turned down the flow a bit and fed the hammer after that. Then 2 days later he looked like he was toast one morning. All other corals in tank including 2 other hammer currently doing fine.