Hammer Coral Growth

[Regalcinema]

Hello everyone, I picked up a hammer coral about 3 months ago it has exploded in size compared to when I got it but it has something growing out of the side, I’m curious if it’s normal or what it even is..
Picture is with the lights off so it closes up to see it better

 

[blaxsun]

Anything in the tube?

 

[Regalcinema]

Anything in the tube?

There are tiny and I mean tiny little tentacle looking lashes that come out of the end.

 

[Regalcinema]

Bump

 

[PokeFish]

Feather duster?

 

[Regalcinema]

Feather duster?

I did think it could be a possible feather duster. I just didn’t know that they would basically bond to the coral like that. And when I first got the coral and I noticed it, I kinda messed with it to see if I could get it to break off and it didn’t want to come off easy so I just left it.

 

[The Farmer]

From my understanding hammer corals split.
Can you try to get a better pic?

 

[Regalcinema]

From my understanding hammer corals split.
Can you try to get a better pic?

Yes I will try and get a better pic with the lights on and with a orange lens..

 

[Regalcinema]

Sorry it’s been a couple days. Here is another picture under white lights. It’s hard to get a closer pic, I hope this helps.

 

[Regalcinema]

Sorry it’s been a couple days. Here is another picture under white lights. It’s hard to get a closer pic, I hope this helps.

I had to catch the coral at night when it’s shriveled and then flip the lights on real quick and then cut the lights off.

 

[NanoJHB]

It's a vermatid snail

 

[Goaway]

I did think it could be a possible feather duster. I just didn’t know that they would basically bond to the coral like that. And when I first got the coral and I noticed it, I kinda messed with it to see if I could get it to break off and it didn’t want to come off easy so I just left it.

I agree with up above about vermatid snail.

Feather dusters come in all sizes. Some can build themselves a home on rock and coral. They will adhere to a select spot either as a larva or by their mucus. Others in the sand. Soft tube worms and coco worms are what we are used to seeing. As they are much larger and easier to see.

Basically, when you see a small little feathery crown on a coral, don't panic! It is just that. A feather duster sp.

In this case, the snail should be removed due to irritating abilities of the mucus net.

 

[Alex7845]

yep looks like a vermetid, there are some videos on how to remove them

 

[BanjoBandito]

That’s a vermetid snail, pull the frag and crush it and remove with bone cutters. Watch for more, they can become a pain. You just don’t want them.

 

[The Farmer]

I would use a blade and scrape it off from the base. Dig a little deeper into the skeleton just to be safe