Hammer Head 6-8 inches long!!!!

reefy · #1 02-04-2009, 06:02 PM

my HH is going crazzy some of the tentacles(only on the side that is close to the overflow) extended to 8 inches long!!!! dont know why tho

mike31154 · #2 02-04-2009, 06:23 PM

Probably 'feeder' tentacles. They will extend these from time to time, supposedly mostly at night. Mine did it for a while after I added it to the tank, haven't seen it for a while now though.

reefy · #3 02-04-2009, 06:29 PM

but it come ou like that everyday tho when the lights is on. it some of them are sooo skinny that they break-off often.

TheRealBigAL · #4 02-04-2009, 06:32 PM

They are sweeper tentacles

That are mostly used for defense purposes as they can be unleashed in an effort to keep another coral from competing for available space. Sweeper tentacles can easily be 3-4 times long as the rest of the tentacles. Built to kill, they typically cary a higher number of cnidocytes (toxin). So make sure the sweepers cannot reach any other corals in your aquarium

Whatigot · #5 02-04-2009, 06:36 PM

+1 almo.
Though this can also be a reaction to change in flow, high flow or low flow.

If you changed the flow up or put something new near it (or maybe it just grew closer to), this could cause the type of sweeping you have described.

mike31154 · #6 02-04-2009, 06:37 PM

Right, that's the term I was looking for 'sweeper' not 'feeder'. Good info. I've never seen any of mine break off though. Only thing close to it is a mat of GSP so I guess these two corals are getting along now.

TheRealBigAL · #7 02-04-2009, 06:48 PM

The sweeper tentacles are tools of defense so they are also designed to drop off during an attack or change of flow. Just watch were the little broken hammer lands in your tank because it can be fatal to other corals. The GSP wont die from touching the hammer but it will stop having Polyp Extension in the area were the contact is made.

Whatigot · #8 02-04-2009, 06:53 PM

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...ight=frogspawn

theres a link to an older thread on the same subject...
Some more really good advice there.
Cheers.

reefy · #9 02-04-2009, 07:03 PM

if you guys pay more attention to my pic you will notice that I have a coco worm in the middle of my HH, no wonder why it opens at night only haha. thanks for everyones reply!!!

justinl · #10 02-04-2009, 08:07 PM

wth! i opened up this thread looking for a hammerhead shark

im disappointed