This is new?

I got this hammer coral over a year ago when I started this hobby, and it was just 1 head. Now there are a lot of heads and it's turned out really nice. I've read that they can reproduce by letting go of part of the skeleton, and just wanted to double check w/ you guys too see if that is what is happening in this pic?

It looks really healthy, even the part that is just hanging there. I had to make it close a little to get good pic of what was going on.
Left side bottom of the hammer

I've never kept one. I just wanted to say its a good looking coral.

Well thx. It was 1 of my first

here is a better pic, it really is a nice hammer

To be honest that looks like die-off. The head can definately drop and start a new, but if the white around it looks like a sponge it is probably die-off. just my 2 cents

The white around it is hard, and the coral fully extends. I had to make it close a little to get a good pic of what was going on. It looks like there is a full head there ant that head fully extends like the rest of the coral. I'll get a pic of the hammer tonight when I get of the full extension.

ive had hammers do that thing - where they drop off bits, and I'd find them behind the rocks in the craziest places!!

most of the drop offs were 1 or 2 tentacles tho - nothing substantial, so I really didn't notice them until they got bigger

I think mine started "seeding" due to stress - had a bit of a jelly infection whatnot at the time too - if I remember right

Your hammer looks great tho in my opinion - what we are trying to look at is that little pile of tentacles right at the bottom of the white skeleton tissue right???

Yes, that's the part I'm thinking of. I read that they'll do this as away to reproduce, but the book did say stress was associated w/ it stress. I'm 1 of the reefers who w/ a big enough tank and some scuba gear would be sleeping in the tank (I watch it all the time)so if there was an infection or something unhealthy I would have noticed it. Should I continue to let it part on it's own or is there something I can do to finish the job?

A common occurance is called polyp extrusion... If the coral is otherwise healthy, that may be what it is... which is a form of reproduction

-or-

I cannot make out the pics, but you may wanna read about something called "polyp bail out" and see if it describes what your seeing.

PBO is more common in single polyp corals like favia or elegance, but it happens in every coral type. My candy cane coral cast off a head once.

I saw it on the floor of my tank, then I saw my pom pom crab walking around holding it!

Originally Posted by Kimberlee

Yes, that's the part I'm thinking of. I read that they'll do this as away to reproduce, but the book did say stress was associated w/ it stress. I'm 1 of the reefers who w/ a big enough tank and some scuba gear would be sleeping in the tank (I watch it all the time)so if there was an infection or something unhealthy I would have noticed it. Should I continue to let it part on it's own or is there something I can do to finish the job?

nah - let nature take its course - by intervening you could actually risk creating an infection!! #1 rule, if it aint broke done fix it right??

Perfect, should be quick anyway, looks like it is almost done. I think it is polyp bail out, just because I never saw any signs of the extrusion proses, but the hammer still appears healthy so I wont worry just hope for a nice healthy frag I can trade latter down the road.

Looks to me like its putting off new heads at the base of the flesh. The deeper flesh that doesnt get much light is often white. If the rest of the coral is expanding fully and looking good i would worry much and just watch it to see what it does

Originally Posted by chris&barb

Looks to me like its putting off new heads at the base of the flesh. The deeper flesh that doesn't get much light is often white. If the rest of the coral is expanding fully and looking good i would worry much and just watch it to see what it does

Thx for the reassurance, not really worried. I do think it's cool though, but that's only because the coral is completely healthy, which reminds me I took a pic last night after lights out.