Branching Hammer Coral info

[TaylorLee]

Hey I just picked up a bhc at myLFS and I was wondering... How do I feed it and keep it alive! Any tips on them would be appreciated!
Thanks!
-Taylor!

 

[mfinn]

I have a several hammers, one is a branching hammer.
I don't feed any of them specificly, but do add a cube of mysis everyday for my pipe fish. I don't see any feeding response.
Good light, moderate flow, and clean water is all I do.

 

[TaylorLee]

So when you say feeding reaction... You mean it doesn't look like it eats?

 

[mfinn]

So when you say feeding reaction... You mean it doesn't look like it eats?

pretty much.
No reaction at all, even when food brushes up against it.
Nothing even at night.
The only difference in behavior is what I see with my wall hammers and they have some long reaching sweeper/stinging tentacles.

 

[TaylorLee]

So only time I should be concerned is if it's retracted. Does it look healthy in the pic? This is my first coral ever! A little jumpy about it haha

 

[mfinn]

Maybe someone else can jump in and give their experinces.
Maybe they do have a feeding reponse and I am just offering the wrong food.
After saying that I'm not going to look for another food. The hammers I have are healthy and growing and I'm good with the way the tank looks, so I see no need to add something else to the tank.

 

[mfinn]

So only time I should be concerned is if it's retracted. Does it look healthy in the pic? This is my first coral ever! A little jumpy about it haha

Give it time to become acclimated to your tank. Keep it upright so when all of it expands, none of the fleshy part touches live rock, which can damage it.
Keep the water clean, moderate flow and decent light and it should be good.

 

[DecanoLA]

I have had and have many of these. It looks very healthy in the pic. Mine are just like that and like pretty good flow and lots of light (although I know some ppl keep them close to bottom). Just keep the polyps away from other corals and not touching the rock. Nice piece!!!

 

[Verduzco]

Looks okay. Don't have to feed it. Once it acclimates fully into your system and water quality is good. Should open up real nice. Way more than it currently is in picture.

 

[Verduzco]

How much did u pick up that piece for. Did it look like that in store or was it a bit fuller.

 

[TaylorLee]

It's fuller now in my tank. It's opened up a lot! I got it from my lfs for 50 bucks. It came with a devils hand hitchhiker too.

This was taken about 15 mins ago.

 

[Rockadile]

thats a sweet hammer and a real steal at 50 bucks

 

[TaylorLee]

Thank you sir. It's my first coral ever. I'm excited about it

 

[j3st3r]

thats a sweet hammer and a real steal at 50 bucks

+1, in my area they sell for $10 a head

 

[TaylorLee]

My dude usually sells his for 15 a head. So I lucked up!

 

[alliecat]

That is a deal! I got mine for a deal too the LFS mismarked it they were charging $30 for all the single heads.. I guess they didn't notice that it had TWO. I got it 2 months ago it has since split a third head. Mine is the neon green purple tip branching type. Unlike my bubble coral, it never wants to be fed. I wonder if that has something to do with the heads dividing though...


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[TaylorLee]

Nice Allie! Any other tips on what to look out for? Good and bad :)

 

[Verduzco]

What a great find. Looks great. Will only get better.

 

[TaylorLee]

Thanks! If it only goes up... OMG I'm happy with it looking like this. I can't imagine it being anymore better! Haha it's got me even more excited

 

[Verduzco]

Thanks! If it only goes up... OMG I'm happy with it looking like this. I can't imagine it being anymore better! Haha it's got me even more excited

Once again , great find. Keep it healthy.