Might have a problem with my hammer coral

[CWebHokie]

I just got a Hammer Coral frag this weekend and when I came home this evening I noticed something odd coming out of it. I'm not at all familiar with hammers so it may be just a feeder tentacle or something. But I figured I would snap a couple pics of it anyway.

Sorry, they arent the clearest pics. It is 2-3 mm wide and extends to as much as 3inches long. It appears to be almost flat like some kind of worm. It's body is almost clear with a slight brown tint. I have seen bristle worms before and this does not look like them. I was feeding the tank when I noticed it and the lights were on. The coral doesnt appear to be adversely affected by it. Any ideas what it is? Should I be worried? Thanks all.

 

[mbort]

It might be purging zooxanthellae. Is it kind of mucous looking, or look kind of like slimy algae? Its no big deal .. keep an eye on it, its usually a sign that it probably came from conditions different to those in your tank and is readjusting itself.

 

[CWebHokie]

It looked somewhat slimy I guess. It definitely did not look segmented like most worms. The best word I could use to describe it would be"filamentous" (if that is even a word, either way you get my drift). Thanks for the response.

 

[manderx]

yup. what mbort said. it looks good. nice polyp extension. some fish *love* to eat that stuff.

 

[CWebHokie]

Thanks guys, I feel better now. I was thinking it was some kind of freak worm that would scalp all my corals. Better safe than sorry I guess. Well, off to work for me.

 

[AIMFish]

I would only worry if those back heads stay like that for over a day. The ones in the front look nice, the back ones should be open more.

 

[CWebHokie]

yeah it was gone this morning, and all the polyps were equally open and flowing when the actinics had been on for just a few minutes.