Can a hammer coral change colors while splitting?

[dbsalinas89]

My hammer coral started splitting its right head about 6 weeks ago and left about 3 weeks ago. Since then the colors went from a orange to brown to green.

The rock has been moved for 2nd pic as aqua scape was changed. However he looks very healthy and is much larger than that picture gives him credit lol just dont understand the color change. Is he going to stay green or go back nuclear orange?

 

[Jerzey]

that's awsome...i haven't seen this in my hammer but interested to know myself.

 

[dbsalinas89]

No no not awesome :-( i am OCD and cant have to many of 1 color. He needs to go back nuclear orange NAO

 

[Jerzey]

it's it new? apparently they can change color when placed under different lighting...hopefully it changes back...i didn't even know they can do that... also some corals have the ability to morph under different lighting conditions

 

[maroonman]

I have seen 1 other orange hammer color morph from orange to gold, to brown & then green.

 

[loves2reef]

ive had a hammer that did the same, not from orange to green but from purple to green not sure if it was the split or change in lights

 

[degibson84]

I think the purple with green tips is a nicer color anyway.

 

[imkelz]

what kind of light do you have it under? I find my leds change the colour of some corals. Usually from a brown to green

 

[dbsalinas89]

T5 HO and reefbrite tech led strips

 

[rfgonzo]

Not sure what caused it but I would definitely want the orange back. I have only seen orange a few times but you see the green everywhere.

 

[dbsalinas89]

Exactly

 

[toky916]

Seems like a trick to sell orange @ a premium then they change back to green ouch.

 

[joshky]

wow that orange was really nice.

 

[Fishy 1]

I hope for you that it changes back, as I have a green and he's pretty but you don't see many orange ones. Fingers crossed

 

[rpjaws74]

I agree thats crazy...but hope it does change to orange much nicer

 

[slgcmg]

I finally got an orange hammer this past weekend, I would be so mad if it changed to green like my others!

 

[Mael]

only other thing I can think of is a recent article I read where some coral farmers were dying corals and then as they grew in a reef tank they would slowly rid themselves of the dye and go back to whatever color their natural zoox provide.

I hope this isnt the case, and if not I would also hope it would return to the same color since your lighting and everything else didnt change, maybe the little bit of stress of splitting made it morph? Hard to say for sure at this point.

 

[ThreeMoneyJ]

That's actually what my first thought was. It really looks like a dyed coral. I've seen dyed anenomies at my LFS (confirmed by the LFS) and what I suspected was a dyed goniopora at the same LFS. Both items came from the same supplier.

I'm not an expert, but I own several different species of euphyllia including green, purple, gold, orange and yellow. The one in your first pic does not look at all natural.

 

[Fish Biscuit]

They collect orange hammers off the reefs, I see them come in all the time. I have to say the coloration of yours does not look natural.

I would have a fit if that happened to me, especially for what you pay for an orange hammer!