Grape Coral

[BigH55]

I guess its either a grape coral or a torch coral. When I bought it at beldts it was labeled a torch. Anyway ive had this coral high in the tank close to my Koralia 3 and it seemed fine until 1 head died off. The other heads are growing but one the heads is not expanding all the way while the other is. Is the lighting and flow too high. Ive moved it down a bit and im gonna see what happens. I dont want to lose it b/c its splitting into 4 heads. Any input welcome. FYI the tentacles look like a torch but they are thivk and have little balls on them (I guess its male).

 

[Homereef]

The lighting is likely not too high. Flow could be a reason, but:

Some times one of the heads die off from damage of taking it home or while on transit to the store. Or it coulc have just been mishandled at the store or set too closely to another coral and recieved a nice protozoan infection from being stung and wounded.

Yes too much flow could have killed it, but that usually looks more traumatic with flesh ripping or it will shrink up and try to protect itself.

Either way as long as the stalk dies off completely and does not leave behind any "brown jelly" the rest will be fine. I would not cut the dead piece off because I would say close to 80% of the time you will get new buds or even the same head to grow back with in 2 months, IF you do not move it. Normally when you see a Euphyllia (Hammer, Anchor, Torch, Frogspawn, ect) that has a lot of heads and has babies growing from it, it is because it hasn't been moved alot. Once these corals feel like they are in a safe spot and remain undisturbed they will be very prolific, but it takes a few months.

As the the gender confusion of the coral: buy it a couple drinks and when it's not looking take a peek under it's skirt.

 

[BigH55]

It shrunk up and then fell off the rock and never reopened.