What is wrong with my hammer coral??

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

It’s got this weird clam looking thing on the side of it, any clue?

Parameters:

Alkalinity 8.4

Calcium:452

Magnesium:1425

PH level: 8

Also looks very shrunken and unhealthy.

 

[kevgib67]

Is that a bivalve on the skeleton! Does it open and close? How recently did the two heads split?

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

Is that a bivalve on the skeleton! Does it open and close? How recently did the two heads split?

Yes it does open and close, I don’t know how recent it split. I purchased it a couple months ago, so at least 3 months.

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

Is that a bivalve on the skeleton! Does it open and close? How recently did the two heads split?

Really good guess, upon further inspection it does look like a shell like structure connected to the hammer. The flesh is trying to wrap around it. Just closed

 

[kevgib67]

A good filter feeder but I think can be difficult to keep. Good luck.

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

A good filter feeder but I think can be difficult to keep. Good luck.

So, is my hammer OK?

 

[kevgib67]

It shouldn’t bother it and as your coral skeleton grows the heads will move further away. Not a lot of flesh on the skeleton on the right. Might be from the recent split just keep an eye on it. Good luck pretty cool, I used to get bivalves on my live rock back in the 90’s.

 

[EgotisticObeseChihuahua]

It shouldn’t bother it and as your coral skeleton grows the heads will move further away. Not a lot of flesh on the skeleton on the right. Might be from the recent split just keep an eye on it. Good luck pretty cool, I used to get bivalves on my live rock back in the 90’s.

Thanks, it is looking a lot better today.