Can this be cut down

[miso]

Purchased this hammer locally from someone and unlike all the other frags this one wasn't on a plug how much of this skeleton can I cut off? Any recommendation on how to cut it without a bandsaw, if this something LFS would maybe do?

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Do not try bone cutters under any circumstances. It will crack the skeleton and kill the hammer.

I would recommend only cutting with a bandsaw or diamond blade dremil. You can cut right up to where the flesh starts but be careful. You won't have a lot to hold on to and you could slip very easily.

 

[miso]

Is it bad to keep the skeleton long like this?

 

[Dburr1014]

Is it bad to keep the skeleton long like this?

No, infact, I would prefer it longer.
As it grows out will fill out nicely when it's longer.
If it's short, it will take longer and may shade other polyps before growing out.

 

[miso]

No, infact, I would prefer it longer.
As it grows out will fill out nicely when it's longer.
If it's short, it will take longer and may shade other polyps before growing out.

So just leave it alone and it will look better in the future?

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

I would.

 

[miso]

Thanks! I'll just stay off Reddit everyone was saying the exposed skelton is sign it's gonna die and I needed to cut it right away

 

[Dburr1014]

So just leave it alone and it will look better in the future?

Yup

 

[vetteguy53081]

Purchased this hammer locally from someone and unlike all the other frags this one wasn't on a plug how much of this skeleton can I cut off? Any recommendation on how to cut it without a bandsaw, if this something LFS would maybe do?

The skeleton is not only a base but lifeline for this coral. Also maintaining calcium no less than 380-400 is important.

 

[Dburr1014]

Thanks! I'll just stay off Reddit everyone was saying the exposed skelton is sign it's gonna die and I needed to cut it right away

Well, hold on.
Can you post a pic in white light?
I'm just asking because there's also the flesh coming off of the head. If you're readdit post was in a white light and they are seeing exposed skeleton and no flesh coming off the head that could be a whole different story on the health of this Coral. You want to see flesh coming off the head at least a half inch, closer to 2" is better.

 

[miso]

Well, hold on.
Can you post a pic in white light?
I'm just asking because there's also the flesh coming off of the head. If you're readdit post was in a white light and they are seeing exposed skeleton and no flesh coming off the head that could be a whole different story on the health of this Coral. You want to see flesh coming off the head at least a half inch, closer to 2" is better.

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Still a bit hard to tell. But is the area I circled a head that died and now has tissue melting off?

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Something like this?

 

[miso]

Still a bit hard to tell. But is the area I circled a head that died and now has tissue melting off?

I will try and get a better picture of that area but when I bought it, it came like this, almost looks like that area has grown since I got it though but not sure if they grow like that or their fleshy head splits

 

[miso]

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Do you have a turkey baster or something similar to lightly blow off this section and see if it's decaying tissue?

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

It almost looks like it was cut there rather then a head that bailed.

 

[miso]

Do you have a turkey baster or something similar to lightly blow off this section and see if it's decaying tissue?

Yeah and it's hard and doesn't blow away

 

[miso]

On the other side to it looks like it had a head that was broken off which is why I was asking If I could cut it down to clean it up abit

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

If it's hard and doesn't blow away it was probably where they cut a head off and was superglued to cover the exposed skeleton. I would just leave it be.