Anyone seen growth like this on a torch?

SDK · Feb 28, 2020

To preface the pics, I took a free torch head in from someone breaking down a tank when I went over to buy some of his equipment.

To say it was 99% dead at the time would almost be optimistic. It had a bit of flesh the size of a nickel clinging to the top, and you could see all of the skeleton down into the internal ribs.

With some feeding and TLC it recovered, and the head is now past golf ball/heading for tennis ball sized.

It is however growing back with very oddly deformed polps. They look like fat fingers that are curled up and saying “come here”.

I’m just wondering if anyone has seen this before with a recovering torch, and if I can expect it to eventually get a more normal appearance.

ahiggins · Feb 28, 2020

I’ve seen thick tentacles like that in areas of little flow. It looks very healthy though :) sometimes things just look weird. I had a hammer once that each polyp had a 2 hammer at the end instead of a traditional hammer.

ahiggins · Feb 28, 2020

If you really think about it, that’s what bounce mushrooms are. A deformity that someone wanted to keep and profit from it.

Bryce M. · Feb 28, 2020

That is weird looking!
but neat, doesn't look unhealthy!

Kingsley_Reef · Feb 28, 2020

Wait your torch doesn’t kill those ricordeas

SDK · Feb 28, 2020

Thanks for the replies. It is definitely getting proper flow/light and growing quickly.

It does not bother the Ricordias, but is not as close as the camera angle makes it look. All of this livestock is getting transferred to a larger tank in a few weeks and I will be separating my Ricordia from the LPS pieces.

Be on the lookout for SDK Bounce torches in the marketplace :D

PerplexyHexy · Feb 28, 2020

Positive thats a torch? I have a duncan colony that grows just like that...

SDK · Feb 28, 2020

100% sure. The guy had a picture he showed me of when it was healthy. Had long uniform polps and was close to softball size.

Would love to see a pic of your Duncan if you have one.