What is happening to this Hammer?!

[Komfortable]

This has been slowly happening over the last week, and tonight I noticed what seems to be the climax of this whole event. Is this some type of reproduction, or should I be very concerned for this coral?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I just read an article on this today, it's called "dropping" propagating, another way of creating a new colony. At least this is what it looks like to me.

Make sure your parameters are in line and that it's in a low flow med/low light area.

 

[Komfortable]

Flow is good here, just enough to fluff it a bit. It is about 1/3 of the way up in a 55gal lit with LEDs. Everything seems to be in line to me, so it must be reproducing.

I hope that's the case, as I have a leather that just finished building a new colony the other day, so I guess I'm doing something right!

 

[cloak]

It might be "dripping," but that's looks pretty intense IMO. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if that coral is taking a turn for the worst. I just wouldn't expect that much tissue to come from what looks like a small coral in the first place. I hope it's ok. GL.

 

[Komfortable]

Yeah, it looks much different tonight. It has separated into the two pieces, however the original colony doesn't look great. Params still look to be in line, so I guess all I can do is try to help it recover by being consistent.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'd say you need to find out the problem since you're having issues with both a frogspawn and a hammer. Something isn't right

 

[Komfortable]

I agree. Where do I start looking? Params are all in order (going to test again today) and I haven't seen any thing physically interacting with a healthy coral. Once their health begins to decline some of the hermits will pounce, but not until there has been a lot of tissue loss and there is no hope of recovery. I don't know what else to check. Suggestions anyone?

 

[Komfortable]

Thought I'd post a quick update pic before I head upstairs to work. Lots of tissue loss, but the crabs haven't touched it or the small piece that fell off, so they must still be alive. Not sure what to do with the small piece, as I don't really have a way to protect it from hungry little inverts.

Excuse the terrible pictures. You can see the little piece in the small hole below the mother, being guarded by a snail...an admittedly terrible guard dog. Lots of tissue loss on the mother, but it looks like it's hanging in there, no melting or polyps bailing. It JUST MIGHT recover...or maybe I'm being hopeful.

 

[joshky]

It can definitely recover if the issue that caused it is addressed.

 

[Komfortable]

It didnt.

No more euphyllia for me, this makes me 0 for 3.

 

[Tweaked]

Believe it or not, the once thought fragile gonipora is easier and hardier than most euphyllia to keep. I find euphyllia need to be on the bottom as well, but this all depends on your flow and lighting of course.

 

[Komfortable]

Not a big goni fan. Had one years ago when I first got into the hobby and it was a little finicky. I wasn't very educated, though. I kept my euphillia in the bottom 1/3. Just confused why I'm having such a hard time with them, but all my other LPS and even my Birdsnest are doing so well.

 

[Tweaked]

euphyllia can be tough is all.

 

[Komfortable]

Thanks, Tweaked, that actually makes me feel a lot better. Why are they so wishy-washy? I just don't understand why they can be fine one day and dead the next with no changes in the tank or params.

 

[deaddat]

Flow is good here, just enough to fluff it a bit. It is about 1/3 of the way up in a 55gal lit with LEDs. Everything seems to be in line to me, so it must be reproducing.

I hope that's the case, as I have a leather that just finished building a new colony the other day, so I guess I'm doing something right!

What do you mean everything "seems" to be in line? What are your actual parameters?

How long has this coral been in your tank? Do you dip them, and are they all from the same retailer?

 

[Komfortable]

I say they seem to be in line because whenever I test everything is where it needs to be. There are some tests that I don't have (mg, phos) but everything else checks out.

The hammer was in there for about 4 months, and all corals in this tank are from the same LFS.

 

[danrobberg]

I always had same issues with them too. They would look great for up to six months and then they would die on me.