Hammer questions

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T15:17:11-0400

I have some hammers that don't quite look right, but seem healthy.
First picture is one with two heads, the second head isn't fully puffy. The fourth picture I'm wondering what the white fuzzy stuff is on the body of the hammer?

StartingATank · 2026-07-23T15:43:47-0400

Looks like a sponge to me

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T15:55:32-0400

StartingATank said:
Looks like a sponge to me

I won't worry about it then. Do you happen to know what's up with my hammer's head?

StartingATank · 2026-07-23T15:56:52-0400

It seems to have receeded from something inclimate, such as lighting, flow, algae, etc. this is a common sign when a euphyllia is stressed

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T15:59:08-0400

StartingATank said:
It seems to have receeded from something inclimate, such as lighting, flow, algae, etc. this is a common sign when a euphyllia is stressed

Suggestions on how to help it relax? I tried scratching it behind his ear and asking who's a good boy but that didn't work. I'm thinking about moving it to a better area of flow for a few days.

StartingATank · 2026-07-23T16:01:00-0400

Redbird5 said:
StartingATank said:

It seems to have receeded from something inclimate, such as lighting, flow, algae, etc. this is a common sign when a euphyllia is stressed

Click to expand...

Suggestions on how to help it relax? I tried scratching it behind his ear and asking who's a good boy but that didn't work. I'm thinking about moving it to a better area of flow for a few days.

That would probably help it, I have the same problem going on with my hammer, and all my other hammers in the exact same location are happy except for one, so sometimes they are picky, but moving it to better flow should help it

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T16:08:43-0400

StartingATank said:
That would probably help it, I have the same problem going on with my hammer, and all my other hammers in the exact same location are happy except for one, so sometimes they are picky, but moving it to better flow should help it

One of my LFS told me a while back there's always something causing problems.

BryanM · 2026-07-23T16:28:47-0400

Looks like several dead heads to me. Fine to leave, fine to fill with superglue, fine to cut off with a dremel or saw - Not bone cutters, bone cutters usually crush the skeletons and often cause damage where you do not want damage to be.

kevgib67 · 2026-07-23T16:29:09-0400

The sandbed is not a good place for your hammers. You need it on the rock getting moderate par ( 100-150 par) and receiving moderate random flow.

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T16:39:52-0400

BryanM said:
Looks like several dead heads to me. Fine to leave, fine to fill with superglue, fine to cut off with a dremel or saw - Not bone cutters, bone cutters usually crush the skeletons and often cause damage where you do not want damage to be.

There's moving polyps in the head. I'd agree with you that the head is gone, but there's moving polyps.

BryanM · 2026-07-23T17:21:56-0400

Redbird5 said:
There's moving polyps in the head. I'd agree with you that the head is gone, but there's moving polyps.

in that case I wouldn't remove it yet, but I've never had one come back from that state, and if there's any algae building up on the skeleton I don't think it ever will.

Redbird5 · 2026-07-23T17:24:36-0400

BryanM said:
in that case I wouldn't remove it yet, but I've never had one come back from that state, and if there's any algae building up on the skeleton I don't think it ever will.

What do I have to lose by moving it. The other head is doing great. I don't know if I should dip it or not.

BryanM · 2026-07-23T17:28:51-0400

Redbird5 said:
What do I have to lose by moving it. The other head is doing great. I don't know if I should dip it or not.

For critters in distress, unless that distress is from something I can see (like flatworms), I usually do not dip. I usually move them to a different location and see if the new environment helps.