Early November I noticed my *recovering* hammer forming some strange growths around its skirt. In Oct the tank went down hard with salinity, lighting, and skimming issues. The Hammer at the time was down to one head, just barely hanging on, and I really didn't expect much recovery.
Initially the skirt lifted a bit and a lip formed which seemed to grow up towards the tentacles. At times I could see the skeleton underneath a little bit but considering the condition of the coral I wasn't surprised. The hammer rebounded with weekly feeding and improved water quality. Eventually nearly doubling its size.
The lip continued to grow eventually claiming its own little cluster of tentacles and forming two little nodes at the base. It's been there for some time swinging about at night when the coral closes up a little and being bountiful during the day.
I believe now maybe the coral is budding itself to reproduce and eventually this little mini will pop off and settle itself somewhere.
Has anyone experienced this before? Any tips on how to ensure the little bud will plant and grow once it comes off?
Here's a few photos of the process in my still exceptionally ugly tank.
Overall the hammer has definitely been doing better than it has in the past so regardless of what happens to the bud I'm happy.
11-18 Earliest picture I have since the tank troubles
11-28 Growing a lip
12-16 Thought at this point I had damaged it somehow
12-16 Looking bushy.
12-21 Lots of tentacles all around the lip
12-21 Looking weird at night.
12-29 night
12-31 Around when I stopped worrying about it.
1-11 Just looks full and happy during the day.
1-12 Wiggling around in the current.
1-12
1-21 Tonight's picture. Sump lights went on late and everything in the tank is a little upset. However I've never seen it retract this dramatically. Certainly seems unusual. Maybe tonight it comes off?
Initially the skirt lifted a bit and a lip formed which seemed to grow up towards the tentacles. At times I could see the skeleton underneath a little bit but considering the condition of the coral I wasn't surprised. The hammer rebounded with weekly feeding and improved water quality. Eventually nearly doubling its size.
The lip continued to grow eventually claiming its own little cluster of tentacles and forming two little nodes at the base. It's been there for some time swinging about at night when the coral closes up a little and being bountiful during the day.
I believe now maybe the coral is budding itself to reproduce and eventually this little mini will pop off and settle itself somewhere.
Has anyone experienced this before? Any tips on how to ensure the little bud will plant and grow once it comes off?
Here's a few photos of the process in my still exceptionally ugly tank.
Overall the hammer has definitely been doing better than it has in the past so regardless of what happens to the bud I'm happy.
11-18 Earliest picture I have since the tank troubles
11-28 Growing a lip
12-16 Thought at this point I had damaged it somehow
12-16 Looking bushy.
12-21 Lots of tentacles all around the lip
12-21 Looking weird at night.
12-29 night
12-31 Around when I stopped worrying about it.
1-11 Just looks full and happy during the day.
1-12 Wiggling around in the current.
1-12
1-21 Tonight's picture. Sump lights went on late and everything in the tank is a little upset. However I've never seen it retract this dramatically. Certainly seems unusual. Maybe tonight it comes off?
