Ultramarine Magazine Issue 64 JuneJuly 2017

 Euphyllia

at such times, not having any
living tissue at the base of a
branching hammer’s branches
is a plus. Since the polyps at
the end of each branch aren’t
connected by live tissue, if one
branch is aff ected the problem

won’t be able to spread to

the other branches the same

way as if they were all joined.

And, if just a branch or two are

aff ected, they can be broken off

and trashed without doing any

damage to the others.

At this point it should be clear that

being a good shopper and choosing

a good specimen is imperative. Any

potential purchase should be examined

very carefully and avoided if there are

any signs of trouble that look like they

could lead to worse problems. Again,

it may be possible to break a few

branches to save a branching hammer,

but when it comes down to it I’d just be

patient and buy a different specimen.

These are offered regularly enough to

fi nd a good one without much trouble,

so take your time and save yourself

some grief if you decide that a hammer

coral is something that you want to

care for in your aquarium.

This massive colony was grown in a hobbyist tank here in the UK (Image J Clipperton)

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