Two heads hammer, one is fine, the other not

[corsicoreef]

My branching Hammer, one head is looking okay, healthy, but the other shrinking more and more for months.
Any clue?

 

[crazyfishmom]

My branching Hammer, one head is looking okay, healthy, but the other shrinking more and more for months.
Any clue?

Unfortunately this is not uncommon. One thing to watch out for is infection because that can sometimes infect the second head.

 

[corsicoreef]

Unfortunately this is not uncommon. One thing to watch out for is infection because that can sometimes infect the second head.

Oh that's really concerning.
The left seems to the thriving well for months with no issues.
Should I dip it?

 

[vetteguy53081]

My branching Hammer, one head is looking okay, healthy, but the other shrinking more and more for months.
Any clue?

The one thats receded may be getting less flow or shaded from light. Additionally assure calcium is not below 390 and po4 is not elevated.

 

[corsicoreef]

The one thats receded may be getting less flow or shaded from light. Additionally assure calcium is not below 390 and po4 is not elevated.

I tried to flip them around, or moving to another location it won't help...
Calcium is around 400, my PO4 test is expired so I haven't tested it...

 

[crazyfishmom]

Oh that's really concerning.
The left seems to the thriving well for months with no issues.
Should I dip it?

I wouldn’t dip at this stage yet. It doesn’t “look” infected right now at least form the pictures but you’re right that it’s not behaving as it should be. I would just be vigilant in the case that it does start to look like it’s going to die and looks infected that you do dip to avoid infection setting in the new head. Were they ever both open or was it always like this from the beginning?

 

[corsicoreef]

I wouldn’t dip at this stage yet. It doesn’t “look” infected right now at least form the pictures but you’re right that it’s not behaving as it should be. I would just be vigilant in the case that it does start to look like it’s going to die and looks infected that you do dip to avoid infection setting in the new head. Were they ever both open or was it always like this from the beginning?

The right head was always not opening as much as the left.
It's an used tank I got 9 months ago.
I believe the tank was established for around 4 years with its previous owner, though I don't know how old the hammer coral is.
Certainly the right head is shrinking more and more in my hands
If I had the tools and skill would frag and separate them.

 

[crazyfishmom]

The right head was always not opening as much as the left.
It's an used tank I got 9 months ago.
I believe the tank was established for around 4 years with its previous owner, though I don't know how old the hammer coral is.
Certainly the right head is shrinking more and more in my hands
If I had the tools and skill would frag and separate them.

More likely than not the polyps will end up bailing out on the head that is not doing well and no harm will come to the healthy head. Just keep an eye on it. Fussing with it and moving it around will only make it worse at this point I think.